Farmer leader Ravikant Tupkar calls Rs 5,000 drought aid inadequate, seeks Rs 1 lakh per hectare

The Rs 5,000 aid announced for drought-hit farmers in Maharashtra is far too little and will not resolve their problems, Ravikant Tupkar, leader of the Krantikari Kisan Sangathan, has said. He demanded that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis provide compensation of Rs 1 lakh per hectare. If that is not done, he said, the government should make clear its firm position on farmers' issues. The demand was made as a memorandum was submitted to the tehsildar at the Deulgaon Raja tehsil office.

On October 19, 2026, Tupkar sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister drawing the government's attention to the problems of drought-hit farmers, landless farm labourers and villagers. The memorandum lists 15 main demands.

According to the memorandum, the drought has caused large-scale crop losses. Farmers are in financial distress under the burden of farming costs, loan instalments, interest and household expenses. In this situation, the memorandum says, Rs 5,000 in aid is like rubbing salt on a wound. Tupkar has demanded that compensation of Rs 1 lakh per hectare be deposited in farmers' accounts immediately.

There are also demands on loan waiver, crop insurance and aid for farm labourers. The memorandum asks for a full and unconditional loan waiver for all farmers, an incentive grant of Rs 2 lakh for farmers who repay their loans regularly, and immediate availability of fresh crop loans. It also asks that pending crop insurance for 2024 and 2025 be paid to eligible farmers, and that crop insurance for 2026 be sanctioned and distributed. Another demand is special financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh for landless farm labour families who have lost work because of the drought.

On fodder, water and farm power, Tupkar said drought-hit areas should have adequate fodder for livestock, fodder camps and arrangements for drinking water. Villages should get water by tanker, farms should receive uninterrupted electricity, and burnt or faulty transformers should be replaced immediately.

The memorandum also raises the issue of pressure from moneylenders. If banks, credit institutions, microfinance companies or private moneylenders threaten farmers and women's self-help groups, harass them mentally or humiliate them publicly to recover loans, legal action should be taken against those concerned. It also demands loan restructuring and easier instalments for borrowers in financial distress.

According to Tupkar, drought-hit farmers do not want announcements of meagre aid. They need firm financial help in proportion to their actual losses. He has asked Chief Minister Fadnavis to take quick decisions on the problems of farmers, farm labourers and villagers and provide relief.

Madhukar Shingne, Shaikh Zulfekar, Pradip Hiwale, Sahadev Lad, Vasantrao Patil, Purushottam Shingne, Devidas Shingne, Sanjay Shingne, Balaji Sose, Gajanan Jaybhaye, Mamaji, Kisan Mama, Rajendra Shingne, Pintu Doke, Jilani Bhai, Raju Nagre, Ganpat Shelke and Sandeep Shinde were among the prominent farmers present at the protest, along with many others.