Amid drought-like conditions in the state, the state government has announced key relief measures for farmers. To support them through the coming festive season, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that an advance of Rs 5,000 will be deposited directly into farmers' bank accounts before Diwali. He was speaking at a press conference held after a state cabinet meeting at the Sahyadri State Guest House.
The meeting reviewed the state's drought relief measures in full. Forty talukas have been newly added to the drought list, raising the total number of drought-hit talukas in the state to 305.
Key decisions and directions from the cabinet meeting: 1. 40 more talukas declared drought-hit; total now 305 Drought had earlier been declared in 265 talukas. After assessing the situation, 40 more talukas have now been added. Drought relief measures will get top priority in all 305 talukas. Trigger-1 had been applied in the earlier talukas, and the government has directed that the next steps be completed quickly across all areas, including the newly added talukas.
2. Examination fees waived in full To spare farmers and families in drought-hit areas any financial burden, the government has ordered that examination fees for students in all these talukas be waived in full, without any additional conditions.
3. Action if farmers are pressed for loan recovery Banks have been given a strict warning not to force farmers suffering from the drought to repay loans.
Orders have been issued to immediately stop loan recovery pressure from primary agricultural credit societies, district central cooperative banks, nationalised banks and microfinance companies.
The administration will keep a close watch on how microfinance companies operate. Action will be taken against any company that misbehaves with farmers or uses coercion.
Farmers already get free power for agriculture up to 7.5 horsepower (HP). Clear instructions have been issued that no one should harass farmers in the name of electricity bills.
4. Strict action on drinking water and illegal extraction Ensuring drinking water reaches every village is the government's main goal. To prevent any shortage, strict action is being taken against unauthorised and illegal extraction of water. So far, the Chief Minister said, as many as 16,000 illegal power connections have been disconnected.
5. Fodder planning and purchase at minimum support price A special action plan has been prepared so that there is no shortage of fodder for cattle:
Farmers should grow fodder crops wherever water is available.
In the rabi season, emphasis should be placed on fodder-yielding crops such as jowar.
The state government will itself buy fodder grown by farmers at the minimum support price, so that farmers do not suffer losses and cattle get the fodder they need.