Maharashtra credits Rs 5,000 drought relief to 73 lakh farmers
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that most eligible beneficiaries should receive the advance assistance 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 the rest of the eligible recipients should get the funds in the next two days, which would cover nearly 95 per cent of those entitled.
Mr Fadnavis attributed delays in some instances to technical banking issues. He also 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, including 2.76 lakh from Marathwada.
The Chief Minister mentioned that 21 lakh farmers have received loan waiver benefits so far, with approximately Rs 21,000 crore deposited into accounts. He added that the government is currently verifying the beneficiary list before further credits are made.
Last week, the State Cabinet approved Rs 5,000 in financial assistance for each farmer, with a total expenditure provision of Rs 7,500 crore for 1.5 crore farmers in drought-affected talukas. Farmers with crop losses exceeding 33 per cent during the current kharif season are eligible for this assistance.
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 a sum.
Mr Sapkal further accused the government of failing to provide timely relief and of avoiding the responsibility to pay Rs 1 lakh per hectare to drought-affected farmers. He alleged the government is working for a few industrialists rather than the common people.