Maharashtra Government Allocates ₹5000 to Farmers in Drought Areas
In response to severe drought conditions, Maharashtra's Chief Minister announces financial aid for farmers ahead of Diwali.
305 out of 358 talukas in Maharashtra declared drought-hit.
Farmers will receive ₹5000 as initial assistance before Diwali.
Educational institutions must refund examination fees for affected students.
The Maharashtra government has officially recognized 305 of its 358 talukas as suffering from drought, following the recent inclusion of 40 additional talukas. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that farmers will receive an initial financial support of ₹5000 directly deposited into their bank accounts prior to the Diwali festival.
During a press conference after the state cabinet meeting held in Mumbai, Chief Minister Fadnavis stated that all standard drought relief measures would be implemented in the affected talukas. These measures include restructuring of crop loans, concessions on land revenue, subsidies for electricity bills, and fee waivers for the children of farmers.
The Chief Minister emphasized that cooperative banks and credit societies have been cautioned against any coercive loan recovery practices or harassment of farmers. Efforts are also underway to ensure that private banks and financial institutions adhere to these guidelines. He highlighted the alarming drop in groundwater levels in the Marathwada region, which have fallen below three meters, prompting the need for immediate deployment of water tankers, monitored via GPS technology.
In an effort to safeguard drinking water supplies, the state has disconnected approximately 16,000 illegal water connections. Regarding fodder availability, Fadnavis noted that reserves vary significantly across regions, ranging from 90 days to seven months. The government has committed to purchasing fodder harvested in suitable areas at the Minimum Support Price to support farmers.
Additionally, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil has instructed colleges statewide to waive examination fees for students hailing from drought-affected talukas. Institutions that have already collected such fees are required to issue refunds, with strict penalties imposed for non-compliance. This directive was communicated during a virtual meeting with vice-chancellors of public universities in Mumbai, aimed at addressing examination-related concerns and other academic issues.
