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

Nagpur, 5th: Farmers across the state are facing drought-like conditions. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said it is the responsibility of every section of society to support farmers and stand more firmly with them. He said the government is making efforts to help, and that several social organisations, groups and ordinary citizens are also coming forward. The government wants to expand these efforts so that help reaches as many farmers as possible.

Fadnavis was speaking informally to journalists at Ramgiri, the official residence. Minister of State for Finance and Planning Ashish Jaiswal and MLAs Sanjay Bhende, Parinay Phuke and Krishna Khopde were also present.

The Chief Minister said a discussion was held with all the state's ministers yesterday. It considered the difficulties farmers face, what support they need and how help can be delivered more effectively. According to him, help should come not only from the government but also from society. The government has therefore decided to encourage the organisations and people engaged in relief work.

Fadnavis said Diwali is a festival of joy, enthusiasm and togetherness, but the present situation is hard for farmers. With the idea that farmer families should share in the festival's joy and feel they are not alone, he has made a special appeal to all ministers: each minister should spend one day of Diwali with farmers in a village.

He said ministers should go to villages, speak to farmer families, learn about their circumstances and understand their difficulties. He said the initiative could prove important in sharing in farmers' joys and sorrows, giving them emotional support and treating their questions with sensitivity.

According to the Chief Minister, farmers are a major pillar of the state's economy. Trouble in farming affects not just the farmer's family but the entire village economy. It is therefore essential, in difficult times, to help farmers, stand with them and work together to put them back on their feet.

Fadnavis said that if the government, elected representatives, social organisations and citizens work together, the reach of the help can grow. He said he would himself spend a day in a village in Nagpur district. He appealed to everyone to come together and overcome the drought.

On the occasion, the Nagpur office of the Department of Information and Public Relations handed the Chief Minister a cheque for the amount collected by all its officers and employees to help drought-affected people.