From Rubble to Roof: How a Govet Package is Rebuilding Lives in Mandi
For Dharmapal Singh, the night of August 16, 2025, is etched in memory like a wound that refuses to heal. That night, as relentless rain pounded the hills of Dhiyun village in Mandi district, his world crumbled—literally. Within hours, his five-room home, a small animal shed, and nearly two and a half acres of land were swept away by the fury of the downpour.
“We watched it happen. There was nothing we could do,” he recalls, his voice heavy with the weight of that memory.
Suddenly homeless, Dharmapal, his family, and their two children found themselves with no roof overhead, forced to seek shelter with relatives. It was a desperate time, made worse by the gnawing uncertainty of how they would ever rebuild.
But hope, as it often does, arrived from an unexpected quarter. The state government, under Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvindra Singh Sukhu, had announced a special relief package for disaster-affected families—one that increased compensation by 25 times compared to previous norms. For families like Dharmapal’s, who had lost everything, the package meant the difference between a dream deferred and a future restored.
Under the new scheme, families whose homes were completely destroyed now receive ₹7 lakh for reconstruction, along with an additional ₹1 lakh for household goods. Dharmapal has already received the first installment of ₹4 lakh. With that money, the construction of his new home has begun—a modest but powerful symbol of resilience.
“The government understood our pain,” Dharmapal says, his gratitude evident. “We are a financially weak family. Without this help, building a house again would have been impossible. The Sukhu government stood with us when we needed it most. Now, my children will have a home again. I hope it will be ready before the next rains.”
His story is not unique. Across Himachal Pradesh, thousands of families who lost their homes in last year’s devastating rainy season are now seeing the first signs of their lives being rebuilt—brick by brick, courtyard by courtyard.
The state government has made disaster rehabilitation a priority, functioning almost like a war room to ensure that no affected family is left behind. The numbers tell the story of a massive effort: the government has released a first installment of ₹141.61 crore for rebuilding disaster-damaged homes across the state, alongside ₹8.97 crore for families living in rented accommodations while they wait.
In Mandi district alone, Deputy Commissioner Apoorva Devgan confirms that approximately ₹31.81 crore has been allocated for home construction and repairs. This includes over ₹19.30 crore for 717 completely damaged houses and more than ₹12.50 crore for 1,406 partially damaged homes.
For the families receiving this help, these aren’t just numbers. They are the assurance that their government has not forgotten them. They are the difference between a life spent in borrowed shelters and the dignity of one’s own address. They are, quite simply, hope restored.
As Dharmapal watches the walls of his new home rise from the earth that once took everything from him, he allows himself a small smile. “We are building again,” he says. “And this time, we know we are not building alone.”
