Devendra Fadnavis announces ₹5,000 Diwali bonus for drought-hit Maharashtra farmers
Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis just announced a special Diwali bonus for farmers struggling with drought.
Eligible farmers will get ₹5,000 straight into their bank accounts before the festival, meant as a quick boost for those hit hardest by tough weather.
Maharashtra expands drought relief measures
More than 85% of the state's talukas have been drought-hit.
The government is also stepping in to waive school fees for farmers' kids, no coercive recovery or pressure is permitted for pending electricity bills, and efforts are on to stop District Central Co-operative banks and credit societies from coercive loan recoveries, harassment, or excessive pressure on farmers.
Plus, free electricity is coming for smaller farm pumps, and another 350,000 farmers have been added to debt relief programs.