The Maharashtra government will seek a Rs. 4,300-crore financial assistance package from the Centre for providing succour to over 16,000 drought-affected villages, State Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Eknath Khadse said on Saturday.
Mr. Khadse said a memorandum seeking funds, expected to benefit over 60 lakh farmers in the drought-affected region, would be sent to New Delhi on Sunday.
The Minister, who had earlier declared over 14,708 villages drought-affected, said the State’s assessment by October 31 showed that drought-like conditions also prevailed in 1,420 villages in Buldhana district in Vidarbha, and they would be added to the list of drought-affected villages.
Mr. Khadse, who also handles the Revenue portfolio, said he had personally discussed the issue with Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh, and requested him to send a Central team in a week for drought assessment.
Maharashtra has already announced a 33.5 per cent discount in current power bills of agriculture pumps, waived fees for school and college students, offered a discount in land revenues, and issued orders to the State power utility to ensure continued power supply to farmers to ensure the functioning of agricultural pumpsets.
Apart from prioritising the Jalyukt Shivar water conservation programme to store rainwater in farm ponds and increase the water table, the Fadnavis government also provides wheat at Rs. 2 a kg and rice at Rs. 3 a kg to an estimated 68 lakh families as a direct programme to stem farmer suicides.
In addition, all farmers are entitled to health support under Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana. The BJP-led government has also brought more farmland under the crop insurance cover, increasing it from 28.05 lakh hectares to 52 lakh hectares.