Guardian Minister Shambhuraj Desai celebrates Diwali with farmers on a field bund in Pimpri

Dahiwadi: Drought conditions persist in Man taluka this Diwali. Against this backdrop, Guardian Minister Shambhuraj Desai celebrated the festival with farmers on a field bund in Pimpri, Man taluka. He ate Diwali snacks with the farmers and spoke to them freely. Hundreds of farmers and Shiv Sena workers were present.

Desai appealed that, because of a possible El Nino crisis in the coming days, rainfall is feared to be low. With this in mind, he asked farmers and ordinary citizens to use drinking water carefully and sparingly. He said the district collector, sub-divisional officers and tehsildars have been directed to supply tankers immediately, according to demand, if there is a water shortage.

Desai said the state government stands firmly with farmers. According to him, the Rs 5,000 bonus given to farmers on the occasion of Diwali is only a beginning. He also said the "Gadmukt Dharan, Gadyukt Shivar" scheme would be launched soon. Under it, Desai appealed to farmers to use the silt from dams and ponds on their own fields.

The Guardian Minister said that although farmers have received the Rs 5,000 assistance, it is necessary to also think about the landless and farm labourers. He assured that this question would be placed before the government and that an effort would be made to frame a special scheme for farm labourers.

On the occasion, Desai praised the work of Shekhar Gore, Shiv Sena district contact chief. Desai said Gore does public-interest work for the people at his own expense and is "our strong leader". It was said that this initiative of joining farmers in their joys and sorrows and celebrating Diwali on the field bund created a mood of happiness among farmers in the Pimpri area. The Diwali event is now being talked about in the area.