Shinde visits Jalna farmer's home, Shiv Sena to fund daughter's education and wedding

Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde visited the home of farmer Ambadas Tangade in Jalna district on Monday. He was touring to support drought-hit farmers and lift their morale. He also sat down and ate a meal with the Tangade family.

Addressing the farmers present, Shinde said, "The crisis is big, but do not lose heart. Do not take any extreme step. The Shiv Sena is with you." He was accompanied by Ministers Sanjay Shirsat and Uday Samant, MP Sandipan Bhumre, former minister Arjun Khotkar, Marathwada Yuva Sena secretary Abhimanyu Khotkar, corporator Darshana Jhol Khotkar and former MP Anand Paranjpe. Other senior Shiv Sena office-bearers and workers also came.

Shinde had directed all Shiv Sena ministers to celebrate Diwali with farmer families during this drought. Under this, the party's ministers had been meeting and talking to farmer families in the state's drought-affected districts for the past two days. On Monday, Shinde himself went to Tangade's home.

Setting aside ministerial protocol, Shinde sat on the floor with the family in Tangade's hut and ate there. He also asked after Tangade's mother and children.

Shinde said the state government has announced a 12-point relief package for farmers affected by the drought. An advance of Rs 5,000 has already been deposited in farmers' accounts. The Shiv Sena also distributed Diwali rations to farmers.

Speaking about the Tangade family, Shinde said the Shiv Sena has taken responsibility for his daughter's higher education and marriage. He also said that in drought-affected areas, the party would arrange, through a mass wedding ceremony, the weddings of farmers' daughters whose marriages have already been fixed.

According to Shinde, the Shiv Sena has distributed 25,000 sewing machines to farmers' wives and 25,000 bicycles to girls. He said that "where there is crisis, there is the Shiv Sena" has now become an identity.

Shinde appealed to farmers not to lose heart, saying the government is with them. He said the Shiv Sena would join the government with full strength in arranging drinking water, fodder for animals and foodgrain until the next rains.