States » WestPosted at: Oct 19 2026 10:24PM


Maha: RPI welcomes Govt initiative to support drought-hit farmers

Pune, Oct 19 (UNI) Dr Hulgesh Chalwadi, Maharashtra vice-president of the Republican Party of India (Athawale) and chairman of the Chalwadi Educational Institution, has welcomed the Mahayuti government's initiative to mobilise financial assistance for farmers affected by the drought in Maharashtra.
The state government has appealed to IAS, IPS and IFS officers, along with employees of various state government departments, to contribute one day's salary from their October 2026 wages to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to support drought-hit farmers.
Describing the initiative as a reflection of social responsibility, Chalwadi said the government's move demonstrated sensitivity towards farmers struggling with the impact of drought.
He said farmers, agricultural labourers and the rural economy were among the worst affected by the drought.
In such circumstances, prioritising relief measures and encouraging the administrative machinery to participate in assistance efforts was a positive step, he added.
However, Chalwadi stressed that financial assistance alone would not be sufficient to provide lasting relief to farmers. He called for an objective assessment of crop losses, timely disbursement of compensation, effective measures to address water scarcity and concrete steps to help farmers rebuild their agricultural livelihoods.
He also appealed to social organisations and philanthropists to contribute to the relief efforts, emphasising that supporting distressed farmers was a collective responsibility of both the government and society.
Chalwadi further stressed the need to ensure that the funds collected were distributed transparently and reached deserving farmers to provide them with tangible relief.
According to figures cited by Chalwadi, 265 of Maharashtra's 358 talukas have been declared drought-affected.
The state received 804.4 mm of rainfall until September 30, representing a deficit of approximately 19 per cent against the seasonal average. The rainfall deficit has pushed farmers in several parts of Maharashtra, including Marathwada and Vidarbha, into a difficult situation, he said.
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