Nashik : Water resources minister Girish Mahajan on Saturday suggested that well-to-do farmers could voluntarily return the Rs 5,000 financial aid they received from state govt to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, if they did not need it.
Speaking in Jalgaon , Mahajan said, “Many economically sound farmers from my constituency approached me saying they do not require the Rs 5,000 aid given to them for drought relief as they have secondary businesses and sufficient resources.
He said, “The lack of rainfall devastated standing crop, leaving farmers in deep distress ahead of the festive season. We have already initiated the process of collecting cheques from them to deposit into the CM’s Relief Fund. Alongside farmers, a major dependent component of the rural economy is the farm labour community, which requires urgent financial backing during this critical hour.”
The minister said the govt had released an advance assistance of Rs 5,000 directly into the bank accounts of affected farmers. He added that several party workers and govt officials have made donations to the CM Relief Fund to support the drought mitigation efforts.