Sharad Pawar Slams Maharashtra Government: 'Farmer Aid in Marathwada Woefully Inadequate!'

NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) president Sharad Pawar has launched a blistering attack on the Maharashtra government, vehemently criticizing the financial assistance extended to farmers in the Marathwada region. Pawar, a veteran political figure known for his deep understanding of agricultural issues, unequivocally stated that the current relief package is woefully 'inadequate' given the extensive damage wrought by recent unseasonal rains and devastating hailstorms across the region.

Pawar didn't just voice his concerns from a distance; he personally visited several villages in the hard-hit Kaij taluka of Beed district, including Umari, Ghugali, and Jawalgaon.

Witnessing the scale of crop destruction firsthand, he expressed profound disappointment with the state's response. "The government's aid package fails to acknowledge the ground reality," Pawar asserted, his words echoing the despair of countless farmers facing ruin. "What they have offered is merely a pittance in the face of such widespread devastation."

The core of Pawar's criticism lies in the stark contrast between the current compensation and what he described as more substantial relief measures implemented in the past.

He pointed out that while the government is currently offering a maximum of Rs 10,000 per hectare for rain-fed crops, limited to a two-hectare cap, this falls far short of what is truly needed. Historically, under previous administrations, farmers received Rs 25,000 per hectare for rain-fed crops and a more robust Rs 50,000 per hectare for horticulture crops.

"How can a farmer recover when they are offered so little for their destroyed livelihoods?" Pawar questioned, highlighting the severe economic strain on agricultural communities.

He emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive 'panchnama' – a detailed official assessment of crop losses – to ensure that aid truly reflects the damage incurred and reaches every affected farmer without bureaucratic hurdles. "A blanket, insufficient sum does not address the varied losses and the specific needs of our farmers," he added.

The plight of Marathwada's farmers extends beyond just crop loss.

Pawar underscored the crippling burden of loans, the persistent struggle with water scarcity, and the fluctuating market prices for their produce. He cited the recent challenges faced by onion and milk producers, the inadequate support prices for sugar cane, and the lack of proper market mechanisms for cotton and soybean.

These systemic issues, he argued, have compounded the suffering caused by natural calamities, pushing farmers further into a debt spiral.

During his visit, Pawar also took time to offer condolences to the family of former MLA Sahebrao Dharmaraj Kadam in Jawalgaon, further demonstrating his engagement with the local community's trials.

However, his primary message remained firm: the Maharashtra government must re-evaluate its approach to agricultural policy and farmer welfare. "It is high time the government stops paying lip service and starts delivering concrete, adequate support to those who feed our nation," Pawar concluded, calling for a more empathetic and effective strategy to alleviate the distress of Maharashtra's farming community.