Maharashtra farmer sends Rs 5,000 to Fadnavis over drought relief

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Upset over what he termed “paltry” interim financial assistance announced by the Maharashtra government for drought-hit farmers, a soybean cultivator from Dharashiv district has sent a money order of Rs 5,000 to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as a mark of protest.

Fadnavis announced on Wednesday that an initial relief amount of Rs 5,000 would be transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts ahead of Diwali. The announcement came after more than 85 per cent of talukas in Maharashtra were declared drought-hit.

The state government added 40 more talukas to the drought-hit list, taking the total to 305 out of the state’s 358 talukas.

Fadnavis said the decision to transfer Rs 5,000 was intended to provide immediate relief before Diwali, as detailed administrative assessments and procedures for a Central government assessment would take time and could not be completed before the festival.

Chand Shaikh, a farmer from Surdi village in Dharashiv tehsil, said he had sent a money order of Rs 5,000 to the Chief Minister.

Shaikh said he earned only Rs 3,900 from his soybean crop and borrowed Rs 1,100 from a friend to send the money order.

“I cultivated soybean on 1.5 acres of my farm. I spent Rs 25,000 and harvested just 60 kg. I could earn only Rs 3,900. I borrowed Rs 1,100 from my friend to send the money order,” Shaikh told reporters outside the Surdi post office.

A man who identified himself as Shaikh’s friend said he had lent the farmer Rs 1,100.