Eknath Shinde assures Maharashtra's drought-hit farmers of loan restructuring, fodder support in Parbhani

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday assured droughthit farmers that the government would not hold back while providing assistance and said loan recovery would be stopped and loans would be restructured during the crisisAddressing a Shiv Sena gathering at Gandhi Park ground in Parbhani Shinde said the government would not leave poor farmers and beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin scheme to fend for themselves amid the drought situation He also assured that arrangements would be made for fodderShinde said the Shiv Sena had resolved to undertake ldquo100 per cent social workrdquo for farmers during the crisis He urged farmers not to lose hope or become disheartened during the difficult periodThe gathering marked the launch of the Shiv Senarsquos lsquoSeva Se Samarpanrsquo Gaurav Yatra in Parbhani district as part of an initiative marking Prime Minister Narendra Modirsquos 25 years of public service As part of the programme Shinde distributed 2500 bicycles to children of farmers and 2500 sewing machines to Ladki Bahin beneficiaries Twentyfive ambulances were also inauguratedThe event was attended by Members of Parliament MPs Sanjay Jadhav and Nagesh Patil Ashtikar legislators Santosh Bangar and Saeed Khan along with senior district officebearersShinde said the state was currently facing the shadow of drought and that the government was aware that the Ladka Bhau and Ladki Bahin beneficiaries were facing difficulties He said the Shiv Sena had resolved to extend a helping hand and support Baliraja and his family during the crisisShinde outlines statewide welfare initiatives amid drought crisisHe also stated that the lsquoSeva Se Samarpanrsquo Gaurav Yatra would be taken across the state and include the distribution of 25000 bicycles 25000 sewing machines lsquoAnandacha Shidharsquo and essential items to farmers and other needy people Community marriages would also be organised as part of the initiativeldquoEven though the state is facing a drought crisis we will not allow the Diwali of farmers in the state to turn darkrdquo Shinde saidShinde further stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had held a onehour discussion with him despite his busy schedule with around half an hour of the discussion focused on the drought situation in Maharashtra and Ladki Bahin beneficiaries According to Shinde Modi assured him of all possible assistanceShinde said the drought crisis was serious but the state government had always stood by farmers and had never left them without support He said the state government had declared a drought and that the entire state Cabinet had visited affected areas to hear farmersrsquo concerns and reassure themldquoFarmers are our focal pointrdquo Shinde said appealing to all political parties to work towards helping farmers recover without politicising the crisis He said there were other platforms for politics but the Shiv Sena would undertake ldquo100 per cent social workrdquo rather than 80 per cent during the crisisShinde highlights Modirsquos 25 years in public lifeShinde also spoke about Modirsquos 25 years in public life from serving as Gujarat Chief Minister to becoming Prime Minister He said India had moved towards becoming an economic power since 2014 and credited Modi with moving the countryrsquos economy from the 10th position to the fourth position globallyHe said Modi had continued to work with the objective of ldquoNation Firstrdquo and had not been deterred by allegations from the Opposition Shinde also referred to the Pahalgam attack and said India under Modirsquos leadership had responded to Pakistan through Operation Sindoor