Will Maharashtra's New Scheme Provide Social Security to Agricultural Workers?

Mumbai, July 11 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Minister of State for Agriculture, Ashish Jaiswal, announced on Thursday that the state will soon roll out a new initiative aimed at providing social security to agricultural workers.

He emphasized that the government is actively implementing various programs for the welfare of farmers to combat the issue of farmer suicides.

In addition, the government is committed to enhancing agriculture through significant investments in the sector. Their ultimate aim is to reduce farmer suicides to zero, with substantial efforts being made to achieve this goal. Minister Jaiswal was responding to a motion introduced by opposition parties under Rule 293 during the Legislative Assembly session.

According to Minister Jaiswal, there are currently 1.71 crore farmers in Maharashtra, and the government is dedicated to bringing transformative changes to their lives.

“The state government firmly supports farmers during crises. We have allocated Rs 69,889 crore across various programs, including the 'Namo Shetkari Samman Yojana', 'Peak Bima Yojana', agricultural mechanization, and the Gopinath Munde Shetkari Sanugrah Grant Yojana. Over the last three years, nearly Rs 56,293 crore has been distributed through the Namo Shetkari Samman Yojana alone,” he stated.

“Additionally, Rs 19,310 crore has been allocated via the Chief Minister Baliraja Electricity Subsidy Yojana, which benefits farmers from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe backgrounds. Furthermore, Rs 16,389 crore has been utilized through the Crop Insurance Scheme, while Rs 19,592 crore has been set aside for compensation,” he added.

“The government is promoting the cultivation of export-oriented crops to enhance farmers' income. We will categorize crops into two groups: assets and liabilities. Farmers have received assistance via the crop insurance scheme, exceeding the norms set by the State Disaster and National Disaster Response Force. We will extend help to those farmers who have not benefited from the crop insurance scheme,” he mentioned.

“With the government’s revision of the crop insurance scheme to a nominal fee of one rupee, an additional investment of Rs 5,000 crore will be directed towards the agriculture sector. The lottery system for agricultural benefits has been abolished, and assistance will now be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding will be increased for schemes that show higher demand,” the minister explained.

Minister Jaiswal also stated that a survey will be conducted to assess the needs of farmers, and resources will be allocated accordingly. He mentioned that the state is encouraging organic and natural farming.

As a result of promoting organic cultivation, the state’s expenditure on chemical fertilizers has been decreasing.

“We will introduce a new policy aimed at safeguarding crops from wildlife. The state government is contemplating a scheme to modify cropping patterns, erect barriers, and offer subsidies to farmers who have abandoned farming due to wildlife issues. We aim to develop a scheme for cultivating new crops to replace those frequently damaged by natural disasters. The government's top priority will be to provide access roads to agriculture,” he said.

Minister Jaiswal revealed that an artificial intelligence-driven policy has been established, with a provision of Rs 500 crore for crop management and pest control. Collaborative efforts with 'MR SAC' will be initiated to expedite the completion of Panchnama processes.

He also mentioned the appointment of a special officer in each taluka to address complaints regarding fertilizer distribution.