The Maharashtra government on Thursday announced a wide-ranging relief package for farmers and rural communities affected by drought conditions across the state. The measures include a stay on agricultural loan recoveries, restructuring of existing crop loans and expanded coverage under drought mitigation measures. The government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, said the steps were aimed at easing financial pressure on farmers facing rainfall deficits and crop-related losses.

Banks have been directed to restructure existing crop loans, with the process to be completed by April 30, 2027, while ensuring that fresh crop credit remains available for the upcoming Kharif season. Revenue Minister and Drought Relief Sub-Committee Chairman Chandrashekhar Bawankule has also instructed District Collectors and police authorities to ensure that representatives of banks and credit societies do not approach farmers for loan recovery during the relief period.

The government has expanded the drought-affected areas by adding 43 talukas to the list following demands from ministers and ruling alliance MLAs. More than 305 talukas, covering nearly 75 per cent of Maharashtra, are now included under 'Trigger-1' drought mitigation measures. The relief package also provides for a full waiver of land revenue for affected farmers and concessions on electricity bills for agricultural pumps above 7.5 horsepower, while the existing waiver for pumps up to 7.5 horsepower will continue.

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The package also focuses on education, employment and rural livelihoods. Examination fees for Class 10 and Class 12 students in designated drought-affected areas have been waived, while the government has allocated Rs 6,728 crore through the Employment Guarantee Scheme to generate work in affected regions. Projects include irrigation works, cattle sheds, orchard plantations, borewell recharge units, bamboo cultivation and repairs to public lakes, with the aim of supporting rural employment and reducing distress migration.

The government has also ordered measures to address drinking water and livestock needs in affected areas. Water tankers are to be deployed wherever drinking water shortages occur, while authorities have been directed to ensure adequate fodder supplies for cattle and plan water resources for both people and livestock. Power supplies to agricultural pumps in declared scarcity villages are not to be disconnected, and targeted distribution systems are to be implemented to prevent foodgrain shortages among farmers and daily-wage agricultural workers.

The broader 12-point relief and concessions package also includes relaxation of work norms under the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission, formerly the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, to maximise employment generation. The government has further ordered the immediate implementation of water conservation works in drought-affected belts. Together, the measures are intended to provide financial relief while addressing employment, water availability, food supplies and agricultural needs across the affected regions.

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