Rohit Pawar to government: if ministers cannot decide, send the CM to the field

Maharashtra has seen no rain for the past month, leaving farmers in several areas in distress. The lack of rain has damaged crops, and in some places farmers have begun ploughing their fields under. State ministers have been visiting drought-hit areas and talking to farmers, but no firm decision has yet been taken on declaring drought or on relief. This has prompted the opposition to repeatedly question the state government.

MLA Rohit Pawar, who visited Parbhani district to assess the damage to farmers, made a sharp comment on the government's relief process. He said farmers ask ministers about help, but the ministers put it off by saying only the chief minister can take the decision. Pawar asked that if the decision has to be taken by the chief minister, why do ministers and ministers of state even go to the farmers' fields at all.

"If ministers do not have the ability to take a decision, then why do you go around the farmers' fields? Send the chief minister to the field and ask him to take the decision," Pawar said, targeting the government.

Pawar demanded that farmers who have suffered losses due to the drought and lack of rain be immediately given assistance of 50,000 rupees per hectare. He also demanded that farmers receive last year's pending crop insurance payout in full, as well as this year's crop insurance. He further demanded that fodder camps be started for animals, that fodder availability be ensured, and that the drinking water problem be resolved immediately.

Pawar also targeted Parbhani MP Sanjay Jadhav, saying Jadhav was more interested in eating cashews and almonds than in resolving farmers' problems. Referring to Jadhav's remark, made when he left Uddhav Thackeray's side, that he was "leaving for development," Pawar asked whose development he would bring about, that of the people of Parbhani or his own.

With the state's rainfall situation, crop losses and demands over the drought still unresolved, farmers are now waiting on the government's decision.