Ravikant Tupkar demands Rs 1 lakh per hectare for drought-hit farmers, calls Rs 5,000 aid inadequate

The Rs 5,000 aid announced for drought-hit farmers in Maharashtra is extremely meagre and will not solve their problems, said Ravikant Tupkar, leader of the Krantikari Shetkari Sanghatana. He has demanded compensation of Rs 1 lakh per hectare from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. If that is not to be given, he said, the government should state its firm position on the farmers' problems. The demand was made while submitting a memorandum to the tehsildar at the Deulgaon Raja tehsil office.

Tupkar sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister on October 19, 2026, to draw the government's attention to the problems of drought-hit farmers, landless farm labourers and the rural public. It lists 15 major demands.

The memorandum says the drought has caused heavy crop losses. Farmers are in financial distress because of the cost of cultivation, loan instalments, interest and household expenses. It says that in such a situation, Rs 5,000 in aid amounts to rubbing salt in the farmers' wounds. Tupkar demands that compensation of Rs 1 lakh per hectare be credited to farmers' accounts immediately.

On loans, the memorandum demands a blanket, unconditional loan waiver. It also says farmers who repay their loans regularly should be given an incentive grant of Rs 2 lakh, and new crop loans should be made available immediately. It demands that pending crop insurance for 2024 and 2025 be paid to eligible farmers, and that the 2026 crop insurance be sanctioned and distributed. It also asks for a special financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh for landless farm labour families who have lost work because of the drought.

Tupkar also demands adequate fodder for livestock, fodder camps and drinking water arrangements in drought-hit areas. He said villages should get water supply by tanker, farms should get uninterrupted power, and burnt or faulty transformers should be replaced immediately.

The memorandum demands legal action against banks, credit societies, microfinance companies and private moneylenders if they threaten, harass mentally or publicly humiliate farmers and women's self-help groups in the course of loan recovery. It also demands loan restructuring and easy instalments for borrowers in financial difficulty.

Tupkar said drought-hit farmers do not want mere announcements of meagre aid; they want substantial financial help in proportion to the actual loss. He has asked Chief Minister Fadnavis to take quick decisions on the problems of farmers, farm labourers and the rural public and give them relief.

Farmers present at the agitation included Madhukar Shingne, Shaikh Zulfequar, 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, along with other farmers.