Maharashtra Announces Drought Relief Package, Rs 5,000 Advance Aid for Farmers Before Diwali

The Cabinet took decisions at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday. Deputy Chief Ministers Sunetra Pawar and Eknath Shinde, along with other members of the state Cabinet, attended the meeting to review the worsening drought situation.

The state government has added 40 more talukas to the drought-hit list, taking the total to 305 talukas across Maharashtra. Fadnavis said eligible farmers would receive Rs 5,000 directly into their bank accounts before Diwali to provide immediate financial assistance during the festive period.

The Chief Minister also announced that the government had finalised a list of 3.5 lakh farmers for a loan waiver scheme, with the process of implementing the relief underway.

Marathwada remains among the regions facing significant water stress, with groundwater levels reportedly declining by more than three metres. To address shortages, the government will deploy an adequate number of water tankers fitted with GPS tracking systems to monitor their movement and improve accountability. Fadnavis also said that more than 16,000 illegal water connections had been disconnected.

Additional relief measures include an unconditional waiver of educational fees for eligible beneficiaries and directions to banks and microfinance institutions not to forcibly recover loan repayments or electricity bills from affected farmers.

The government will also directly procure fodder and encourage farmers to cultivate fodder crops to ensure adequate supplies for livestock during the drought.

Explaining the decision to announce assistance before Diwali, Fadnavis said drought declarations and relief measures had traditionally been finalised in November and December. This year, the state government accelerated the administrative process to begin providing assistance in October, given the severity of the situation.

The Chief Minister said the state had decided to use its own resources to provide immediate financial support rather than wait for the Centre's relief procedures to be completed.

He emphasised that the Rs 5,000 advance payment was intended to give affected farmers immediate access to funds during a period of financial hardship.

The government has also reiterated that ensuring drinking water supplies will remain its highest priority amid the continuing shortages.

In addition to the advance payment, farmers across the 305 drought-affected talukas will remain eligible for benefits under 12 existing government relief schemes, the state government said.

The package aims to provide immediate financial assistance while addressing broader challenges related to water availability, agricultural losses, livestock maintenance, and household expenses in drought-affected areas.