Maharashtra declares 40 more talukas drought-hit, announces ₹5,000 aid for farmers

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday declared 40 more talukas in the State drought-hit and decided to deposit an advance relief amount of ₹5,000 in the bank accounts of farmers ahead of Diwali.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “More 40 regions are added, the drought measures will be implemented in all announced drought regions.”

He also warned cooperative societies, district banks, nationalised banks and microfinance companies against pressuring farmers to recover loans.

Relief measures

The government had earlier declared 265 talukas drought-hit. With 40 more talukas added to the list, the total has risen to 305. Trigger 1 and Trigger 2 have been applied in these talukas, making them eligible for assistance under the Centre’s National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines. The measures include a complete waiver of examination fees for students in drought-hit talukas, without any eligibility criteria.

“The government will purchase the fodder cultivated by farmers at a guaranteed price to make fodder available for animals,” Mr. Fadnavis said, outlining the fodder policy.