CM Devendra Fadnavis Assures All Possible Assistance to Farmers Amid Drought Conditions

Xtreme News India   28-10-2026 17:46:17   376523591

CM Devendra Fadnavis Assures All Possible Assistance to Farmers Amid Drought Conditions 

Mumbai (Special correspondent) - The state government is providing all possible assistance to farmers amid the challenging drought conditions prevailing in Maharashtra. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed confidence that the government's support would certainly help ease the hardships caused by the drought. He was speaking at a meeting held at Sahyadri Guest House to discuss the demands raised by the All India Kisan Sabha.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Agriculture Minister Dattatraya Bharne and MLA Vinod Nikole were present at the meeting.

Chief Minister Fadnavis said the state government had decided to waive loans taken by distressed lift irrigation schemes and directed that the decision be implemented effectively across the state.

Farmers who have suffered losses due to drought will receive advance assistance of Rs 5,000. With this advance assistance, farmers will receive support exceeding the compensation prescribed under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms.

The government is prioritising the provision of drinking water through tankers and ensuring the availability of fodder in drought-affected areas. The Chief Minister reiterated that the government stands firmly behind farmers and will not abandon them in their time of distress.

Installments under the Namo Shetkari Samman Nidhi Yojana will be disbursed to farmers. The government is also providing an incentive grant of Rs 50,000 to farmers who regularly repay their crop loans.

A ministerial group constituted to examine loan waivers will discuss the proposal to increase this incentive amount. An appropriate decision will be taken after considering the state's financial situation.

The Chief Minister further said that a letter would be sent to all banks through the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), requesting that the CIBIL score requirement not be imposed when granting fresh crop loans to farmers.

Pending Installments Under Ladki Bahin Scheme - Directing officials to release pending installments immediately to women who have completed their e-KYC under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, Chief Minister Fadnavis said the government would positively consider new beneficiaries as well as women from tribal areas whose e-KYC has not been completed.

He added that Maharashtra provides benefits to the largest number of women among states implementing welfare schemes for women.

Crop Insurance and Tribal Produce Procurement - The Chief Minister said that the proposal to reinstate the triggers previously applicable under the crop insurance scheme would be examined by the concerned department before a decision is taken.

He also directed officials to restore the procurement of Bal Hirda (a tribal forest produce) through the Tribal Development Corporation and pursue the matter with the Central Government to include the produce under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism.

Honorarium Hike for Mid-Day Meal Workers -

The state government is positively considering an increase of Rs 1,000 in the monthly honorarium of school mid-day meal workers, who currently receive Rs 2,500 per month.

The Rural Development Department was directed to examine the proposal to transfer the honorarium of women mobilisers working in villages covered under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) directly into their bank accounts.

The department was also instructed to consult the concerned Gram Sabhas, consolidate the existing government resolutions and formulate an appropriate long-term policy through a comprehensive government resolution.

Direct Payment of Wages to Village Employment Assistants - Chief Minister Fadnavis said the concerned department should examine and take necessary action to ensure that the honorarium of Gram Rojgar Sevaks (village employment assistants) is deposited directly into their individual bank accounts instead of the Gram Panchayat's account.

He added that the framework for individual-benefit schemes for construction workers should be determined in accordance with the Central Government's new labour laws. The state government is also positively considering the introduction of a medical reimbursement scheme for construction workers.

Review of Pending Agricultural Electricity Connections - The Chief Minister directed officials to investigate cases of farmers in Wardha district who had submitted demand applications for agricultural electricity connections but had not received connections, and to take appropriate action.

He also instructed officials to conduct a detailed inquiry into complaints raised by farmers whose solar-powered agricultural pumps had been installed and commissioned, and to submit a report.

Revenue Department to Examine Temple and Waqf Land Issues - Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that state-level information was being collected regarding the registration of farmers' names in the 7/12 land records of temple-owned lands.

A separate meeting would be held with representatives of the Kisan Sabha to discuss the matter. Representatives of the Kisan Sabha would also be invited as special invitees to the committee drafting the relevant legislation.

Regarding entries classifying land under the Waqf category in the 7/12 records of Muslim families holding inam lands, action would be taken in accordance with the Waqf law.

Once the Minority Development Department issues the notification authorising divisional commissioners to exercise the relevant powers, applications received in this regard will be processed.

The Revenue Minister further said that, in cases involving farmers cultivating gairan (government grazing) lands, the government would determine the eligibility cut-off period and make a fresh request to the Supreme Court.

Officials and Kisan Sabha Representatives Attend Meeting - 

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Santosh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Forests) Sanjay Khandare, Agriculture Secretary Parimal Singh, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Lakhmi Gautam, Agriculture Commissioner Suraj Mandhare, former MLA J. P. Gavit, All India Kisan Sabha National President Dr. Ashok Dhawale, President Umesh Deshmukh and General Secretary Dr. Ajit Nawale, among others.