Yoke Lifted from Landless Farmer’s Wife’s Shoulders; Relief for Gaikwad Family of Bombli Village in Latur District

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Provides Financial Assistance and a Bullock to the Farmer

Mumbai, June 2026:Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stepped in to assist a landless farmer from Bombli Khurd village in Devni taluka of Latur district, whose plight drew attention after he was forced to harness his wife in place of a bullock that had died after being struck by lightning. Within a few hours of the matter reaching the Chief Minister, the family received a replacement bullock as well as compensation for the loss of the animal.

The swift intervention by the Chief Minister, along with the sensitivity shown by the district administration and various government departments, has been widely appreciated. The timely assistance has brought significant relief to the hardworking Gaikwad family, ensuring that the farmer’s wife will no longer have to bear the burden of replacing the animal in agricultural work.

Kashinath Gaikwad, a landless farmer from Bombli Khurd, earns his livelihood by using his pair of bullocks to cultivate fields belonging to local farmers. Along with his wife, Hausabai, he undertakes agricultural activities such as ploughing, sowing, and other farm operations. The family’s livelihood depends entirely on this work.

However, during a thunderstorm on June 5, one of the bullocks died after being struck by lightning. Faced with the challenge of completing already accepted farming assignments, Kashinath was reportedly compelled to harness his wife to the yoke alongside the remaining bullock. News of the incident reached Chief Minister Fadnavis, who immediately directed the Chief Minister’s Secretariat to take urgent action.

Acting on the Chief Minister’s instructions, Principal Secretary Dr. Shrikar Pardeshi coordinated with Latur District Collector Dr. Bharat Bastewad and directed all concerned departments, including the Revenue Department, to provide immediate assistance to the family. Officials from the Tehsil Office, Animal Husbandry Department, and Agriculture Department promptly visited the village.

The Animal Husbandry Department arranged a replacement bullock, which was formally handed over to the Gaikwad family in the presence of District Collector Dr. Bharat Bastewad, Tehsildar Somnath Wadkar, and other officials. The gesture brought visible relief and happiness to Kashinath Gaikwad and his family.

Expressing gratitude, Hausabai Gaikwad and the couple’s son, Pundlik, thanked Chief Minister Fadnavis and the district administration for responding so quickly to their hardship. Hausabai said that the death of the bullock had placed the family in a difficult situation, but the immediate support had eased their worries.

She added that the assistance would help them complete the agricultural work they had accepted for the upcoming Kharif season. She also expressed satisfaction with the healthy replacement bullock and assured that the family would take good care of it.

Under existing government provisions, financial assistance is provided through the State Disaster Response Fund when livestock die due to natural calamities. In the Gaikwad family’s case, the required inspection and post-mortem procedures were completed promptly, and compensation has been sanctioned as per the rules. The approved amount is being transferred directly to the farmer’s bank account.