Dharashiv Congress urges collector to halt loan recovery from farmers during drought

The Dharashiv district Congress has submitted a memorandum to the district collector demanding that loan recovery be stopped immediately in view of the drought. The party said farmers, farm labourers and daily-wage workers are in financial distress because of the drought, and that continuing to pressure them for repayment is unjust. The memorandum was submitted to the collector on behalf of district Congress committee president Umesh Rajenimbalkar.

The Congress said the district has had no rain for more than a month and a half. This has hit farming and farm-related livelihoods, and many families are in financial difficulty as sources of income have dried up. Despite this, recovery of instalments on various loans is continuing by government, private and cooperative banks, NBFCs and finance companies, the party said.

The memorandum claims that recovery is continuing from borrowers of many kinds of loans, including two-wheeler, vehicle, self-help group, farm and gold loans, deepening the financial crisis. It therefore demands that loan recovery be paused for some time during the drought to give borrowers relief.

The Congress also demanded that the district administration give the necessary instructions to all banks, NBFCs and finance companies. It also asked that all banks be directed through the lead district bank to support drought-affected people. The memorandum says: "When avenues of income have closed, instead of increasing pressure for loan recovery, the administration should adopt an approach of giving people relief. Action should be taken on this demand immediately."

Meanwhile, low rainfall this year has created severe drought conditions in many parts of Maharashtra. Farmers are in distress because of water shortage, damage to kharif crops, the question of fodder and mounting financial difficulties. Against this background, the state government has begun implementing various measures for drought-affected areas.

The state government has announced that measures under drought "Trigger-1" will apply in 305 talukas. Initially 265 talukas were included, and more were added later. Several decisions are being taken to give financial relief to farmers, students and ordinary families in drought-affected areas.

To ease the burden of education costs on families hit by the drought, the government has announced a decision to waive examination fees for Class 10 and Class 12 students. The aim is to ensure that the education of children in drought-affected areas does not stop for lack of money.