Athawale seeks Rs 15,000 Diwali aid for farmers, calls Rs 5,000 inadequate

Dharashiv, Oct 17 ( UNI) union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale has urged the Maharashtra government to increase its Diwali assistance for distressed farmers from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000, saying the amount is insufficient given the prevailing drought conditions and the financial hardships faced by the farming community.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced financial assistance of Rs 5,000 for farmers affected by the prevailing crisis ahead of Diwali. However, the announcement has drawn criticism from several political leaders, including Athawale, whose party is part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Athawale said farmers were facing severe financial difficulties due to the drought and needed greater assistance to celebrate Diwali. He said he would meet Fadnavis to seek an increase in the relief amount. He also called for adequate financial assistance to agricultural labourers, who are equally affected by the prevailing situation. He urged the state government to consider the financial distress of both farmers and farm labourers and take a positive decision on increasing the assistance. Meanwhile, Dr Ajit Nawale, general secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha, has criticised the state government's announcement, alleging that the Rs 5,000 assistance comes at the expense of payments due under the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Yojana. Nawale claimed that Rs 4,000 payable under the scheme had been withheld while the government announced the Rs 5,000 Diwali assistance. He termed the move a betrayal of farmers and accused the government of misleading them. Highlighting the severity of the drought, Nawale said several parts of the state were facing acute water shortages, while farmers were struggling to arrange fodder for their cattle. He argued that the announced assistance was inadequate given the scale of the crisis. UNI SP AAB