Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) President Sharad Pawar on Monday urged the state government to revise the restrictive eligibility conditions attached to its ₹36,585 crore farm loan waiver scheme, warning that without corrections, genuine farmers stand to be excluded from benefits. Speaking to reporters in Baramati, Pawar called for dialogue over confrontation.

What Pawar Said

Pawar stopped short of demanding a wholesale rollback of the scheme, instead advocating for targeted amendments. “The loan waiver scheme comes with certain conditions that are causing hurdles. Often, when a government makes a decision, the public may not agree with its framework. However, in a democracy, it is essential to establish a healthy dialogue to correct these flaws. That is all I would say,” he said.

He further pressed the Chief Minister to engage with Central authorities directly. “Instead of adopting a stance to completely discard the policy just because it has certain loopholes, the focus should be on how the Chief Minister can liaise with the relevant Central authorities to amend these conditions and ensure that farmers successfully receive the loan waiver,” Pawar clarified.

The Scheme and Its Exclusion Filters

The Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar farm loan waiver scheme is projected to benefit 55.72 lakh farmers across Maharashtra and fully clear the land records (Satbara) of nearly 16.74 lakh farmers. However, the cabinet has imposed strict eligibility filters.

Current or former Ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs, MLCs, and leaders of local government bodies are barred from the scheme. Working and retired Central and state government employees or pensioners with a gross monthly income exceeding ₹25,000 — excluding former military personnel — are also ineligible. Employees of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), cooperative banks, and sugar factories drawing more than ₹25,000 monthly are similarly excluded, as are individuals with non-agricultural income who file regular income tax returns.

Agricultural Distress on the Ground

Pawar flagged significant crop damage in the region, noting that banana and sugarcane harvests had suffered heavily. He said a team of experts from the Vasantdada Sugar Institute had already surveyed affected areas and submitted written findings and recommendations. “While the scientists have completed their visit, the ultimate execution does not lie in our hands,” he added.

INDIA Bloc Meeting in New Delhi

Commenting on the opposition coalition’s review meeting in New Delhi, Pawar said key leaders would reconvene within eight to ten days to chart a path forward. He confirmed that Supriya Sule was representing the party at the meeting. “The core strategy for today’s meeting is to ensure that no member takes an extreme stance,” he said, adding that a resolution was expected by the evening.

With no major national elections on the horizon for the next three years, Pawar stressed the importance of keeping all opposition stakeholders aligned and avoiding public friction within the INDIA bloc. How the Maharashtra government responds to calls for scheme revision will determine whether the ₹36,585 crore outlay reaches its intended beneficiaries.