Maharashtra ministers to spend Diwali with farmers, says Devendra Fadnavis
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that ministers will visit farmers during the festival due to widespread drought affecting 85 per cent of talukas.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday that state ministers would try to spend Diwali with farmers because of distress caused by widespread drought. According to The Times of India, the drought has spread over 85 per cent of the state's talukas.
Fadnavis said that while he has not issued a formal directive, the cabinet discussed the matter and decided it was best to observe the festival with farmers. He noted that the government has transferred interim pre-Diwali relief of Rs 5,000 to 73 lakh drought-hit farmers.
The chief minister stated that the transfer would reach 95 per cent of farmers in two days, though 5 per cent are affected by bank account issues. He added that Rs 19,000 crore for the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar loan waiver has been transferred to 21 lakh farmers.
Regarding water issues, Fadnavis said the government has tried to resolve problems in Marathwada and the region will soon receive 7 tmc of water, mainly in the Beed and Dharashiv districts. On Wednesday, the loan waiver was transferred to 4.8 lakh farmers, including 2.7 lakh in Marathwada.
Ajit Navale of the Kisan Sabha criticised the interim relief, calling it a joke given the scale of distress. Navale alleged the government has not paid several instalments of the Namo Shetkari Yojana and has stopped Ladki Bahin instalments for 81 lakh underprivileged women.
Navale said that if the state wants to help farmers, it should resume those payments and provide higher compensation for damaged crops than the amount given by NDRF norms.