Should the state government provide immediate assistance of Rs 50,000 per acre to flood-affected farmers?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Immediate financial assistance of Rs 50,000 per acre is being demanded for flood-affected farmers.
- Farmers are currently in a critical crisis due to devastating crop losses.
- The situation in Madha taluka is particularly alarming.
- Political leaders are urging for government intervention and support.
- Long-term agricultural sustainability is at risk due to soil erosion.
Solapur, Sep 25 (NationPress) Former minister and NCP-SP legislator Jayant Patil has called for the immediate allocation of Rs 50,000 per acre in direct aid to farmers suffering from the devastation caused by intense rainfall and flooding across several regions of Maharashtra.
During a visit to the flood-stricken villages alongside former minister and party leader Harshvardhan Patil, Patil shared with reporters that farmers are currently facing a critical situation. He urged the government to act promptly and deliver real support to farmers instead of merely issuing statements.
“The crops in the fields have been obliterated. Farmers are witnessing their livelihoods being washed away, tears in their eyes. Rather than subjecting them to further mental strain through the Panchnama process, the government should provide swift compensation. Therefore, an immediate direct assistance of at least Rs 50,000 per acre is essential,” stated Patil.
He further noted that the plight of farmers in Madha taluka is dire. The ongoing heavy rains have left farmers devastated, and many are already weighed down by debt. The recent downpours have essentially erased the farmers' hard work.
Meanwhile, NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule mentioned that she met with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to discuss the alarming flood situation in Maharashtra, advocating for the declaration of a wet drought along with a complete loan waiver.
“Farmers across the state have faced significant losses. In various areas, soil has been washed away, threatening to render the land barren. I informed him that due to excessive rainfall, crops have rotted in the fields. I strongly urged for the declaration of a wet drought in Maharashtra, the provision of an economic package from the center, and a complete loan waiver for farmers. I insisted that farmers should receive loans at zero or minimal interest rates to help them recover and that there should be no pressure regarding their existing loans,” she noted.