Drought-hit farmers to receive Diwali ration at their doorsteps, says Eknath Shinde

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday flagged off trucks carrying Diwali ration and relief supplies for droughtaffected farmers from his residence in Thane an official statement saidThe initiative aims to provide assistance through both the state government and the Shiv Sena with financial aid being credited to farmersrsquo bank accounts and festive essentials being delivered to their homes it saidSpeaking at the event Shinde said the government would not hold back assistance for farmers facing difficulties because of droughtHundreds of trucks to deliver Diwali essentialsThe Shiv Sena will send hundreds of trucks carrying Diwali ration to droughtaffected areas in phases according to Shinde Party workers will deliver the supplies directly to farmers at their homes and fieldsTransport Minister Pratap Sarnaik MP Naresh Mhaske MLA Ravindra Phatak Thane Mayor Sharmila Pimpalolkar Shiv Sena officebearers and party workers were present at the flagoff eventShinde extended festive wishes to farmers citizens and journalists on the occasion of Dussehra and said ldquoWe will not let farmersrsquo Diwali be bleakrdquoHe said the Chief Minister ministers MLAs and MPs had visited droughtaffected areas to understand farmersrsquo problemsThe government had accepted the demand to declare drought in Maharashtra and would ensure that farmers received assistance he addedRs 5000 assistance being credited to farmersrsquo accountsShinde said financial assistance of Rs 5000 was being credited to farmersrsquo bank accounts He said the government understood the difficulties faced by farming families including the impact on childrenrsquos education daughtersrsquo weddings and household expensesHe pointed out that farmers had suffered crop losses due to heavy rainfall last year while drought had damaged crops this yearShinde also said the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were supporting farmersShiv Sena to help with daughtersrsquo weddingsShinde said the relief initiative would continue through the Dussehra rally with more trucks carrying essential supplies being sent to droughthit areasHe said the party was following the principle of ldquo80 per cent social work and 20 per cent politicsrdquo and would take responsibility for helping with the wedding expenses of daughters from droughtaffected farming familiesMLAs district chiefs and talukalevel party leaders had been instructed to identify families requiring such assistance he addedShinde said the initiative reflected the Shiv Senarsquos commitment to standing by people during difficult times drawing on the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand DigheHe also praised MP Dr Shrikant Shinde for observing Navratri simply while preserving traditions and culture and for using the festival to extend assistance to farmers