Maharashtra to assess drought damage before setting farmer aid

Maharashtra will decide the level of direct assistance for drought-hit farmers after completing a ground-level assessment, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has said. The state government declared drought in 265 of its 358 talukas on Saturday, according to a government resolution. The affected areas account for 74% of Maharashtra’s talukas.

Pawar said the administration had been ordered to conduct an objective assessment and that the declaration had been made only that day. She said the amount and form of assistance would be determined once the assessment report was available. The government has announced 12 relief measures for affected areas.

These include concessions in students’ educational fees and the start of employment-guarantee works, Pawar said. She described conditions in Marathwada as difficult, with crops damaged or dried up and farmers facing shortages of drinking water and fodder for livestock. Pawar said the drought declaration was a source of relief for farmers dealing with those problems.

Pawar visited Nanded and was due to travel to Parbhani and Beed to assess conditions and meet farmers. She said 14 of Nanded’s 16 talukas had been included in the drought declaration, while almost the whole of Parbhani district was covered. The deputy chief minister also addressed concerns involving students from Marathwada studying in Pune and Mumbai.

She said the government would consider additional difficulties if they were brought to its attention, including issues related to examination fees. Pawar said assistance would be provided as soon as possible after the assessment. The source material does not specify the timetable for the survey or the eventual amount of support for farmers.