Fadnavis asks ministers to spend a day of Diwali with drought-hit farmers in their villages

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has appealed to all his ministers to visit the villages of drought-affected farmers and celebrate Diwali with them. He said this during an informal conversation with journalists at his Ramgiri residence in Nagpur.

Fadnavis said, "I too will visit a village in Nagpur district one day. If the government, public representatives, social organisations and citizens work together, the reach of the help that farmers receive can be widened." In the same spirit, he asked the ministers to spend one day of Diwali with farmers.

According to the Chief Minister, farmers in the state are currently facing drought-like conditions. He said that in such a situation, supporting farmers and standing firmly with them is the responsibility of every section of society.

Fadnavis said farmers need support not only at the government level but also at the social level. Diwali is a festival of joy, enthusiasm and togetherness, he said, so farmer families too should share in the festive joy and feel that they are not alone.

The ministers are expected to visit rural areas, talk to farmer families, learn about their conditions and understand their problems. Sharing in the farmers' joys and sorrows, giving them moral support and showing sensitivity to their difficulties form the broader social message of the initiative.

Fadnavis said the state is facing a severe drought because of El Nino. He said the crisis is challenging, especially in rural areas, but that everyone together will overcome it. He said providing drinking water and fodder for livestock is the government's priority and work is being done with that goal in view. The government is trying to help farmers, and many social organisations, groups and citizens are also coming forward to help, he said.

On the occasion, officials and staff of the Nagpur office of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations handed the Chief Minister a cheque for the money collected to help drought-affected farmers.

Minister of State Ashish Jaiswal, MLAs Sanjay Bhende, Parinay Fuke and Krishna Khopde, and city president Dayashankar Tiwari were present at the event.