Mah Govt announces relief measures for farmers

* Farmers in as many as 9,270 villages in Vidarbha to get benefits apart from those in other parts of Maharashtra

By Kartik Lokhande 

Maharashtra Government, on Tuesday, announced relief measures for farmers in 19,059 villages facing drought-like situation. Of these, total 9,270 villages are in Vidarbha including all 7,241 villages in Amravati Division and 2,029 in Nagpur Division.

Drought-like situation prevailed in these 19,059 villages across Maharashtra owing to erratic and inadequate rainfall during Kharif season. The Kharif paisewari (yield per acre) in these villages has been estimated to be below 50 paise (per cent). On Tuesday, Revenue and Forests Department issued a Government Resolution (GR) announcing the relief measures. Suresh Bokde, Desk Officer of the department issued the GR in this regard.

As per the GR, farmers have been granted relaxation in land revenue. Conversion of co-operative loans, stay on recovery of crop loan, relaxation in norms for works under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, 33.5 per cent concession in payment of electricity bills, waiver of school fees are some other measures. Further, tankers will be made available to meet drinking water needs, wherever necessary. The power supply connection to agricultural pumps will not be severed in case of farmers in villages where drought-like/scarcity situation has been announced.

The financial burden incurred on account of providing relief will be borne by the respective departments. The respective administrative departments have been asked to make available enough financial allocation to subordinate offices.

It may be mentioned here that of a total 39,434 villages in Maharashtra, the Government has declared drought-like/scarcity situation in 19,029. Among the affected villages also, maximum 8,004 are in Aurangabad Division. Still, Amravati Division in Vidarbha is the worst-affected with drought-like situation in all 7,241 villages. Nagpur Division, another from Vidarbha, has 2,029 villages affected and is on third position as far as drought-like situation is concerned. Yavatmal, Amravati, Buldana, and Wardha districts are the worst-affected ones in Vidarbha region.

Meanwhile, addressing a programme in Satara on Tuesday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the State Government had requested the Central Government to send a team to assess the situation. Soon, a Central team will visit affected parts of the State and aid would be announced. Besides, the State will also extend a helping hand to farmers affected by recent unseasonal rainfall that damaged crops on 50,000 hectares, he added.

No of villages in Vidarbha with

less than 50% crop yield/acre

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District                Total no                    Villages with less than

                            of villages                 50% crop yield per acre

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Amravati             1,981                             1,981

Akola                      997                               997

Yavatmal              2,050                            2,050

Buldana                1,420                           1,420

Washim                    793                              793

Nagpur                  1,795                              525

Wardha                  1,341                           1,049

Bhandara                 847                               07

Gondia                     921                               00

Chandrapur          1,396                             448

Gadchiroli             1,496                              00

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Total                    15,037                           9,270

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(25-11-14)