Meeting Held to Discuss Various Demands of the All India Kisan Sabha
Mumbai, October 2026: The Maharashtra government is providing all possible assistance to farmers amid the challenging drought situation prevailing in the state, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said. He expressed confidence that government support would help ease the hardships caused by the drought.
The Chief Minister was speaking at a meeting held at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai to discuss various demands raised by the All India Kisan Sabha.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne and MLA Vinod Nikole were present at the meeting.
Chief Minister Fadnavis said the state government had decided to waive loans associated with troubled lift irrigation schemes and directed officials to ensure effective implementation of the decision across Maharashtra.
Farmers who have suffered losses due to the drought will receive advance assistance of ₹5,000. This advance payment will provide farmers with assistance over and above the relief prescribed under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms.
The government is prioritising the deployment of drinking water tankers and the provision of fodder in drought-affected areas. The Chief Minister reiterated that the government stood firmly behind farmers and would not abandon them in their time of need.
Assistance Under Farmer Welfare Schemes
Chief Minister Fadnavis said instalments under the Namo Shetkari Samman Nidhi Yojana would be disbursed to farmers.
The state government is also providing an incentive grant of ₹50,000 to farmers who regularly repay their crop loans. The ministerial group constituted to examine the issue of loan waivers will discuss the possibility of increasing this incentive, and an appropriate decision will be taken based on the state's financial position.
He further said that a letter would be sent to all banks through the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), requesting that the CIBIL score requirement not be imposed when extending new crop loans to farmers.
Regarding the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, the Chief Minister directed officials to release pending instalments immediately to women who had completed their e-KYC formalities.
He said the government would positively consider new beneficiaries as well as women in tribal areas who had not completed e-KYC. He added that Maharashtra was providing benefits to the largest number of women among states implementing similar welfare schemes.
Review of Crop Insurance and Tribal Produce Procurement
The Chief Minister said the concerned department would examine the possibility of reinstating the triggers previously applicable under the crop insurance scheme before taking a decision.
He also directed officials to restore the procurement of Bal Hirda through the Tribal Development Corporation and pursue the matter with the Central Government for inclusion of the product under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism.
The government is also favourably considering an increase of ₹1,000 in the monthly honorarium of midday meal scheme workers, who currently receive ₹2,500 per month.
The Rural Development Department was asked to examine and take action to ensure that the honorarium of women mobilisers working in villages covered under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) is deposited directly into their bank accounts.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to consult the concerned gram sabhas, consolidate existing government resolutions and issue an appropriate resolution after considering the matter from a long-term perspective.
Measures for Rural Employment and Construction Workers
Chief Minister Fadnavis said the department should examine the proposal to deposit the honorarium of Gram Rozgar Sevaks directly into their personal bank accounts instead of the accounts of gram panchayats, and take appropriate action.
He said the benefits available to construction workers under individual welfare schemes should be defined in accordance with the Central Government's new labour laws. The state government is also favourably considering the introduction of a medical reimbursement scheme for construction workers.
Review of Agricultural Electricity Connections
The Chief Minister directed officials to examine cases of farmers in Wardha district who had submitted demand notes for agricultural electricity connections but had not yet received them, and take necessary action.
He also ordered a detailed investigation into complaints raised by farmers whose solar-powered agricultural pumps had been installed and made operational. A report on the findings is to be submitted.
Revenue Department to Examine Land-Related Demands
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said state-level information was being collected to facilitate the recording of farmers' names in the 7/12 land extracts for temple-owned lands.
A separate meeting would be held with representatives of the Kisan Sabha to discuss the matter. Representatives of the organisation would also be invited as special invitees to the committee drafting the proposed legislation.
Regarding entries identifying Waqf rights in the 7/12 land extracts of Muslim families holding inam lands, action would be taken in accordance with the Waqf Act.
The Revenue Minister said applications received on the matter would be processed after the Minority Development Department issued a notification granting the relevant powers to divisional commissioners.
In cases involving farmers cultivating gairan (government grazing) land, the government would determine the eligibility cut-off period and approach the Supreme Court again with a request for consideration.
Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Santosh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Forests) Sanjay Khandare, Agriculture Secretary Parimal Singh, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Lakhmi Gautam, Agriculture Commissioner Suraj Mandhare, former MLA J. P. Gavit, All India Kisan Sabha National President Dr Ashok Dhawale, President Umesh Deshmukh and General Secretary Dr Ajit Nawale, among others, attended the meeting.
