Rohit Pawar hands over the memorandum of demands to divisional commissioner Vijaylakshmi Bidari in Nagpur
Nagpur : NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Thursday met divisional commissioner Vijaylakshmi Bidari and submitted a list of demands for Vidarbha’s drought-hit farmers, including an immediate drought declaration, relief of Rs 50,000 per hectare, full implementation of the stalled loan waiver scheme within 20 days and restoration of crop insurance triggers the state had removed. On the relief package, Pawar demanded an immediate drought declaration, Rs 50,000 per hectare for farmers and Rs 25,000 per household for farm labourers. “It is a Rs 35,000 crore scheme, but the govt has released only Rs 2,000 crore so far. Of the total eligible farmers, only 12 lakh have received the benefit. 43 lakh are still waiting,” he said. The full waiver must be implemented within 15 to 20 days,” Pawar added. “The govt promised a paddy bonus of Rs 25,000 per hectare for 2025-26. Chhattisgarh procures paddy at Rs 3,500 per quintal but Maharashtra pays only Rs 2,300. That rate must be brought to Rs 3,500 here as well,” Pawar said.
“Because the money has not been credited to banks, farmers cannot get fresh loans. Because the triggers were removed, “Farmers who suffered excess rain have not received the Rs 3,500 per hectare they were owed. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Nagpur | Silver Rate in Nagpur | Bank Holidays in Nagpur | Public Holidays in Nagpur | Petrol Price in Nagpur | Diesel Price in Nagpur | CNG Price in Nagpur | LPG Price in Nagpur Stay updated with the latest Nagpur news.
“Children of farmer and labourer families studying in college must also receive fee support from the govt, along with cattle fodder, drinking water tankers and expanded employment guarantee cover in drought-hit talukas,” he said. On the loan waiver, Pawar said the scheme had largely stalled. All four must be restored,” he said.
Pawar was in Nagpur as part of an NCP (SP) tour of farmer-distressed regions across Maharashtra. He also flagged the removal of four triggers from the crop insurance scheme. On paddy procurement, Pawar demanded parity with Chhattisgarh. That promise must be kept. Download the TOI App.
He had met farmers in east Vidarbha on Tuesday and Wednesday, including in paddy-growing areas, following which he submitted the list of demands to Bidari today.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Pawar said Vidarbha was facing a 40-45% rain deficit, Marathwada 60% and several western Maharashtra districts 30-40%, leaving the kharif crop in serious trouble.
The question is how the farmer will survive this year and the next,” he said. “If kharif is in trouble, rabi will be even harder.