Shelar to press Cabinet to declare Panvel taluka farmers drought-hit

Amid drought-like conditions in the state and the difficulties faced by farmers, Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar made an important statement in Raigad. He said he would make a strong demand in the Cabinet to have farmers of Panvel taluka also declared drought-affected. Shelar was speaking at a Diwali snehmilan held at Kalegaon in Raigad.

On the occasion, he ate Diwali snacks with tribal families and listened to their problems.

Drought-like conditions have developed in 305 talukas of the state because of deficient rain. To give relief to farmers, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis deposited assistance of Rs 5,000 per farmer into the accounts of eligible farmers before Diwali. Shelar said he would try to get the farmers of Panvel taluka declared drought-affected as well.

At the event, Shelar visited the home of Roshan Waghmare in the Akhadwadi tribal hamlet with his family. There he ate Diwali snacks with the tribal residents. Speaking with emotion, Shelar said that after his mother's death he had not been able to feel the joy of Diwali wholeheartedly in the past 10 to 12 years. Eating with the tribal families brought back childhood memories, and after many years he found the true joy of Diwali.

Shelar also stressed the need to preserve the folk art, traditional dance, singing and the bond with nature of the tribal community. He assured that special schemes would be run for the all-round development of tribal people.

At the gathering, farming implements were distributed to 389 families in seven tribal hamlets from the Zilla Parishad's 15 per cent fund. MLA Prashant Thakur also stressed that the benefits of government schemes should reach the last person in tribal and remote areas.

After the event, Shelar visited a farm at Shirdhon to review the crop. He spoke to farmers troubled by the drought and learnt about their problems. MLA Mahesh Baldi and several other public representatives and administrative officials were present.

Attention now turns to what the Cabinet decides on declaring Panvel's farmers drought-affected.