Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday that the state’s ministers would try to spend time with farmers during Diwali in view of the distress caused by the widespread drought in the state.“I have not issued a directive but we discussed this and took a decision together and felt it was best to visit farmers and observe Diwali with them,” said Fadnavis after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The drought in the state has spread over 85% of its talukas.He also said that the govt had transferred the interim pre-Diwali relief of Rs 5,000 to 73 lakh drought-hit farmers. In another two days, it would be transferred to 95% of the farmers, he said. Around 5% is affected by issues with bank accounts, he said.The state had also transferred the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar loan waiver to 4.8 lakh farmers of which 2.7 lakh were located in Marathwada on Wednesday, he said. In total, Rs 19,000 crore for the loan waiver had been transferred to 21 lakh farmers, he said.Fadnavis also said that the govt had tried to resolve the water problem in Marathwada and the region would soon receive 7 tmc of water, mainly in the Beed and Dharashiv districts.However, farmers’ groups are critical of the interim relief. “Given the scale of the distress, this is a joke,” said Ajit Navale of the Kisan Sabha. He pointed out that the govt had not paid several instalments of the Namo Shetkari Yojana in the state.“The govt has also stopped the Ladki Bahin installments for 81 lakh underprivileged women. If it wants to help farmers, the state should resume their payment and should also provide higher compensation for damaged crops than that given by NDRF norms,” said Navale.
