The Maharashtra government is actively working to distribute financial assistance to farmers impacted by recent floods, with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde emphasizing the goal of getting relief funds into their hands before the upcoming Diwali festival.
Large swathes of the state, particularly the Marathwada region, have been severely hit by torrential rains since September 20, leading to widespread flooding. This has resulted in significant damage to crops and considerable hardship for agricultural communities.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Shinde affirmed the government’s steadfast support for the farmers. He mentioned that officials have visited affected areas to assess the situation firsthand. The state government has also reached out to the central government, with Mr. Shinde having met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and submitted a formal request for assistance. He highlighted the Centre’s consistent support during past crises.
Furthermore, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis personally met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to brief him on the severe rain situation in Maharashtra and to request aid from the National Disaster Relief Fund. This meeting followed an earlier discussion between the Chief Minister, Mr. Shinde, and Mr. Shah in Mumbai.
Mr. Shinde detailed the scope of the relief efforts, stating that “Funds are being provided for rebuilding damaged homes, supporting livestock, compensating for crop losses, and also for instances where lives have been lost.” He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring these crucial funds reach farmers promptly, ideally before Diwali.
Addressing criticism from opposition parties regarding the adequacy of the aid, Mr. Shinde urged critics to witness the plight of the affected communities directly instead of engaging in political debates. Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal had previously labeled the declared relief amount as “pittance,” while Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray demanded a higher compensation of ₹50,000 per hectare for the impacted farmers.