Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday, 27 October announced that police cases will be filed against microfinance and private finance companies that harass drought-affected farmers across 304 talukas for loan recovery. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Sub-Committee chaired by Bawankule, following a distressing incident in Nanded that prompted the Chief Minister to order direct police action against errant lenders.

Police Action Against Rogue Lenders

Minister Bawankule issued a stark warning to microfinance and private finance companies, stating that those caught mentally harassing farmers during the ongoing drought period — and driving them to suicide — will face direct criminal complaints. 'Microfinance and private finance companies harassing farmers during the drought period and driving them to suicide were issued a clear warning at the meeting. Following the incident in Nanded, the Chief Minister has ordered direct police complaints to be registered against officials and recovery agents of companies that mentally harass farmers,' Bawankule said.

This marks a significant escalation in the state government's response to predatory lending practices that have long plagued rural Maharashtra, particularly during periods of agrarian stress.

Fodder and Water Supply Relief Measures

To address the worsening fodder shortage across the 304 drought-affected talukas, full authority for fodder procurement and cultivation has been vested in a 5-member committee chaired by the respective District Collectors. The Collector will have complete autonomy over procurement, local cultivation, or sourcing supplies from other districts.

Under a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), dry fodder will be made available at ₹12 per kg and green fodder at ₹8 per kg. Fodder cultivation will be carried out on available lands belonging to the Forest, Revenue, and Water Resources departments using funds from the District Planning Committee (DPC). Notably, abundant fodder stocks from Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts will be diverted to drought-hit areas.

On the water front, rural piped water supply schemes that were shut down solely due to unpaid electricity bills or missing power connections will be immediately restarted using DPC funds. Bawankule said this step will reduce wasteful expenditure on water tankers and ensure direct drinking water supply to villagers.

Diwali Subsidy and Desilting Scheme

A ₹5,000 subsidy is being credited to eligible farmers' bank accounts ahead of Diwali. However, income tax-paying farmers, government officials and employees, and public representatives have been explicitly excluded. The minister said these strict eligibility criteria will mirror the rules applied under existing loan waiver schemes.

The government will also provide financial assistance for desilting lakes and dams, with a subsidy of ₹31 per cubic metre for desilting work and ₹35 per cubic metre for transporting the silt to farmland. Royalties will be fully waived if soil, murrum, or gravel excavated from lakes is used in road construction.

New Talukas May Be Added to Drought List

Minister Bawankule confirmed that demands to declare drought have been received from Haveli, Maval, and Mulshi in Pune district, Hatkanangale in Kolhapur district, and parts of the Konkan region. A final decision on including these talukas in the official drought-affected list will be taken at the next Tuesday's Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting, after ground reports are received from the respective District Collectors.

With Maharashtra's drought deepening across multiple districts, the government's next meeting will be closely watched by farmers and administrators alike for further relief announcements.