Pune: MVA members on Thursday likened the state govt’s decision to give drought-hit farmers Rs5,000 each in advance before Diwali to rubbing salt on their wounds.NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule said, “Many farmers have lost the entire crop and have no income at all. The prices of seeds and fertilisers have shot up and the farmers had high hopes from the govt regarding the relief. What will they do with Rs5,000? The govt should immediately take a decision of giving Rs1 lakh per hectare to every farmer.”The state govt on Wednesday announced the decision of giving Rs 5,000 to every farmer as a part of the advance payment before the festival. It clarified that more relief would follow once the Centre released the drought relief package.Former state agriculture minister and senior Congress member Balasaheb Thorat said, “The govt is interested in only making big statements but in reality it has failed to provide any relief to the people of the state. It is the govt’s duty to take care of its people but Mahayuti is not fulfilling its duty. Govt’s announcement of giving Rs5,000 is like rubbing salt on farmers’ wounds.”Baramati MP Supriya demanded that the govt should start providing free foodgrain to drought-affected families. “The UP govt provides free foodgrain to some families. Why cannot our state govt replicate similar measures? After elections, the govt stopped giving Anandacha Shidha (ration kit) before festivals. The govt should take measures to provide needed relief to drought-affected families,” Supriya said.The farmer activists and opposition have been demanding that the state govt release the monetary help to farmers at the earliest as the situation was worsening in many parts of the state. While the govt claimed that Rs5,000 was only an advance before the Diwali festival, the opposition stressed that the amount was not enough to sustain high inflation.Mahayuti members hit back at the opposition and claimed that MVA members politicised every issue. State cabinet minister and senior BJP member Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said, “The amount announced by the govt was only an advance and not a final aid. The panchnama process is in its final stage and once the report is submitted, the package will be released. Our govt decided to give some relief before Diwali, but the opposition is politicising the issue.”
