Maha earmarks funds for Ambedkar's 125th anniversary, loan

Maharashtra government today decided to allocate Rs 125 crore for the programmes to mark the 125th birth anniversary year of Dr B R Ambedkar and initiate a soft-loan scheme for sugar mills enabling them to pay off sugarcane farmers.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The funds would be used for the events that started this April 14 and will continue till April 14, 2016. This period is being observed as 'equality and social justice year', to commemorate the 125th birth year of Ambedkar, an official statement said.

The cabinet also decided to set up a ministerial committee to oversee the programmes during the period.
The government today also decided to implement a soft loan scheme for sugar factories, to enable them pay fair and remunerative price (FRP) to sugarcane growers.
FRP is the minimum price to be paid by the sugar mills to the growers.

Under the scheme, loans of Rs 187.76 crore would be available for eligible mills, the statement said.
Meanwhile, the cabinet was also informed of the water scarcity in Marathwada region.
So far, 497 mm rainfall has been recorded in the state and sowing operations are complete in 93 per cent of the average area. The state reservoirs have 48 per cent water stock, it said.