Chief Minister interacts with residents of Lohari Sawanga village
Nagpur, November 2026: The Maharashtra government is firmly standing by farmers as the state faces a severe natural crisis in the form of drought, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday. He assured farmers that financial assistance and support through various welfare schemes were being extended to those affected and that several more initiatives would be introduced in the coming period.
Addressing villagers after a prayer meeting organised by the Gurudev Seva Mandal at Lohari Sawanga village in Nagpur district, Fadnavis said the challenge would have to be faced collectively and with unity.
The prayer meeting was held in a pavilion on the premises of the Lohari Sawanga Gram Panchayat. Those present included Nagpur Guardian Minister and State Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MLAs Charansingh Thakur, Ashish Deshmukh and Dr Rajiv Potdar, former MLA Sudhakar Kohale, District Collector Kumar Ashirwad, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Vinayak Mahamuni and other senior officials.
Government extends financial assistance to farmers
Interacting with villagers, Fadnavis described the current year as challenging, saying the rains had remained inadequate until the end of the season. As a result, crops had dried up and farmers had suffered heavy losses. Several areas of the state were also facing serious shortages of fodder and drinking water.
He said the government had stood firmly with farmers during this difficult period. Referring to the earlier decision on loan waivers, he said the initiative had helped farmers regain financial stability, with lakhs of farmers benefiting from the scheme.
However, the drought situation had once again created difficulties for the farming community. The state government had therefore extended direct financial assistance to farmers, he said.
To enable farmers to celebrate Diwali, the government had deposited Rs 5,000 into the bank accounts of approximately 1.5 crore farmers. The process of transferring the assistance was still underway, he added.
The Chief Minister also said that farmers' electricity bills had been waived, along with outstanding arrears. Various schemes had additionally been introduced to provide relief to rural residents.
More schemes and water conservation initiatives planned
Fadnavis said several additional welfare initiatives would be implemented in the coming months. The government would undertake extensive water conservation works and make efforts to address public health concerns and other issues affecting rural communities.
He said the government had visited the village with the objective of spending the Diwali festival providing encouragement and reassurance to farmers facing difficult circumstances.
Tukdoji Maharaj's teachings offer strength during difficult times
Referring to the teachings of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj, his work Gramgeeta and his devotional compositions, the Chief Minister said the saint's bhajans possessed immense strength and could inspire people even during the most difficult circumstances.
He observed that the teachings of Tukdoji Maharaj could help individuals regain confidence when they felt disheartened by adversity. His Gramgeeta, he said, offered a vision for making villages prosperous in every aspect.
Fadnavis added that Tukdoji Maharaj's thoughts on the measures that should be undertaken during drought were particularly inspiring and provided valuable guidance.
He expressed hope that the teachings of Gurudev would give everyone the strength and determination to overcome the ongoing crisis.
