Rs 5,000 drought relief reaches 73 lakh Maharashtra farmers
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said remaining eligible beneficiaries should receive the advance aid within two days.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday that Rs 5,000 in advance drought relief has been credited to the bank accounts of 73 lakh farmers before Diwali. According to the Deccan Chronicle, the Chief Minister noted that technical banking issues caused delays in some instances, but the remaining eligible beneficiaries are expected to receive the funds within two days, reaching nearly 95 per cent coverage.
The Chief Minister stated that Rs 4,764 crore in loan waiver benefits under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Loan Waiver Scheme has been transferred to 4.86 lakh farmers. This includes 2.76 lakh farmers from Marathwada. He added that 21 lakh farmers have received loan waiver benefits so far, with approximately Rs 21,000 crore deposited into accounts.
The assistance is available to farmers in drought-affected talukas who experienced kharif season crop losses exceeding 33 per cent. Last week, the State Cabinet approved the Rs 5,000 assistance and allocated Rs 7,500 crore for 1.5 crore farmers. Currently, 304 of the state's 358 talukas have been declared drought-affected.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal criticised the BJP-led Mahayuti government, alleging it was mocking farmers. Mr Sapkal called the Rs 5,000 amount inadequate and challenged the Chief Minister to explain how families could celebrate Diwali with such funds. He also accused the government of failing to provide the Rs 1 lakh per hectare compensation and claimed the administration prioritises industrialists over common people.
Mr Fadnavis said the Mahayuti government is standing with farmers. He also directed ministers to visit the homes of distressed farmers to celebrate Diwali with them.