Marathwada drought: Dhiraj Deshmukh seeks SDRF aid, faster crop-loss surveys from Fadnavis

Marathwada and several other parts of Maharashtra saw scanty and erratic rainfall this season, with a long dry spell in between. This has affected soil moisture and groundwater levels, resulting in near-drought conditions in the region. Kharif crops including soyabean, sugarcane, cotton, tur, moong, urad, maize and bajra have suffered heavy damage, leaving farmers in serious financial distress.

Senior Congress spokesperson and former MLA Dhiraj Vilasrao Deshmukh has demanded that the government properly assess the actual situation in Marathwada and declare the affected talukas and villages as drought-hit. He also demanded that farmers be given immediate financial assistance, crop insurance benefits and a special package.

When Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the drought-affected areas of Marathwada, Deshmukh handed him a memorandum containing farmers' demands. The memorandum said the government should carry out an accurate village-by-village and farm-by-farm drought assessment based on MahaMADAT, MahaRain, rainfall data, soil moisture, groundwater levels, water storage and actual crop losses, and declare drought in talukas and villages that meet the required criteria. It demanded that crop-loss surveys (panchnama) be completed on a war footing for affected farmers' villages and farms, that assistance under the SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) be disbursed immediately, and that a proposal for special assistance under the NDRF (National Disaster Response Fund) be sent to the central government. It also sought direct grants to disaster-hit farmers through a transparent and simple process, and directions to all nationalised, cooperative and other financial institutions on halting recovery of agricultural loans, restructuring loans, and issuing fresh crop loans.

The memorandum also asked the administration to make advance arrangements for water tankers, alternative water supply, fodder camps, fodder depots and necessary veterinary facilities in view of the possible water shortage and to protect livestock. It sought immediate approval of a special drought relief package for Marathwada and the "Marathwada Rabi Punarbandhani Special Scheme", so that affected farmers can get seeds, fertiliser, micro-irrigation and technical support for the rabi season.

Deshmukh also demanded that crop insurance claims rejected or kept pending in 2023-24 due to the 72-hour rule be reopened for reconsideration. He said eligibility should be determined on the basis of revenue department crop-loss surveys, agriculture department reports, rainfall records, WINDS data, weather reports and other government documents, and that damaged areas be treated as a "Wide-spread Localized Calamity" under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). He said claims of farmers who reported losses through banks, the agriculture department, the revenue department or any other authorised channel should be accepted, and that the principles laid down by the High Court in PIL No. 91/2021 should also be applied to Marathwada cases.

He said claims approved even after the 72-hour period should also be reviewed so that farmers in similar situations get equal justice. Dhiraj Vilasrao Deshmukh told Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, "Farmers should not be denied their crop insurance entitlement on technical grounds despite suffering actual losses. All eligible farmers should get their crop insurance benefit within the stipulated time." He was accompanied by Latur Rural District Congress Committee president Abhay Salunke and other Congress office-bearers.