Maharashtra to give drought-hit farmers Rs 5,000 advance aid before Diwali

The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, decided on Tuesday to give farmers in drought-hit areas an advance aid of Rs 5,000 before Diwali. The state government has taken the step to provide immediate relief to farmers hit by crop losses and water scarcity.

Fadnavis announced the decision on October 14. He said the government would not wait for the Centre to complete the procedures for releasing drought relief. The amount will be credited directly to farmers' bank accounts as interim aid. The state will bear the expenditure from its own funds so that the aid reaches farmers before the festival.

A report says the state's expenditure on the advance aid could be roughly Rs 6,000 crore to Rs 7,000 crore. As the eligibility criteria are yet to be finalised, the final number of beneficiaries and the total cost will depend on them.

The decision comes as the state government has raised the number of drought-hit talukas from 265 to 305. Maharashtra has 358 talukas in all. After reviewing complaints and verifying ground conditions, the government added 40 more talukas to the list.

Fadnavis said all 12 standard concessions applicable in a drought would be extended to these 305 affected talukas. These include restructuring of crop loans, concession in land revenue, subsidy on electricity bills and waiver of tuition fees for farmers' children.

The Chief Minister said the advance aid is meant to give farmers immediate financial support while the Centre's survey and relief process is under way. Under the applicable relief package and government guidelines, farmers will remain eligible for further assistance as well.

On loan recovery and water supply, the government has warned district central cooperative banks and credit societies not to resort to forced recovery, harassment or undue pressure on farmers. Efforts are also under way to ensure that private banks and financial institutions follow these instructions.

The administration has also stepped up measures to deal with water scarcity. Fadnavis said groundwater levels in observation wells in Marathwada had fallen below three metres. The government has therefore prepared to start water tankers early. The tankers will be monitored through a GPS system.

To protect drinking water, the state has disconnected about 16,000 illegal tap connections. The government has also said fodder stocks in different areas are enough to last from about 90 days to seven months. Fodder harvested in suitable areas will be procured at the minimum support price.

Farmers in a large part of the state are in distress because of deficient rainfall. Fadnavis said the government began the process of declaring drought earlier than usual this year, as the severity of the situation required action ahead of the normal schedule.

Farmers' organisations and Opposition leaders have criticised the announcement. They asked whether Rs 5,000 would be enough to make up for crop losses and the cost of cultivation. The government's position is that the amount is urgent interim relief and not a substitute for a comprehensive drought relief package. The state is expected to continue the survey and documentation process needed for additional aid as the drought situation evolves.