Maharashtra announces Rs 5000 to farmers in drought-affected talukas

Maharashtra is facing severe drought situation. The state government has declared 305 of its 358 talukas drought-hit, following the addition of 40 more talukas to the list. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday announced that farmers will receive initial financial assistance of five thousand rupees in their bank accounts before Diwali. Speaking to reporters after the state cabinet meeting in Mumbai today, Fadnavis said all 12 standard drought relief concessions would be extended to the 305 affected talukas. These include crop loan restructuring, land revenue concessions, subsidies on electricity bills and fee exemptions for farmers’ children. The Chief Minister said cooperative banks and credit societies had been warned against coercive loan recovery or harassment of farmers. Similar efforts were being made to ensure that private banks and financial institutions followed the same approach. He added that groundwater levels in Marathwada had fallen below three metres, necessitating early deployment of water tankers, which would be tracked through GPS. 
The state has also disconnected nearly 16 thousand illegal water connections to protect drinking water supplies. On fodder availability, Fadnavis said reserves ranged from 90 days to seven months, depending on the region. The government has assured farmers that fodder harvested in suitable areas would be purchased at the Minimum Support Price. 
Meanwhile, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil has directed colleges across the state not to charge examination fees to students from drought-affected talukas. Any fees already collected must be refunded, failing which strict action will be taken against the institutions. The directions were issued during an online meeting with vice-chancellors of state public universities in Mumbai to review examination-related issues and other academic matters.