Package for rain-hit farmers before session ends: Khadse

Assuring that a comprehensive financial package for farmers affected by unseasonal rains would be announced before the Budget session ends, Maharashtra government today said it was planning a group insurance scheme to help the kin of farmers who committed suicide.
Under the group insurance scheme, the kin of the farmers who committed suicide would get Rs two lakh.
However, not satisfied with the government's reply to the marathon debate which took place yesterday, the Opposition Congress and NCP staged a walkout as their demand for loan waiver and Rs 25,000 per hectare assistance was not accepted.
Replying to the debate on the issue in the Assembly, state revenue minister Eknath Khadse, who also heads the agriculture department, said, "I have sought permission of the House on this issue and if needed, the MLA fund and salary for a period of one-year would be freezed."

The minister also said that uncertain climatic changes have caused havoc with the state repeatedly experiencing unseasonal rains and hailstorms in addition to drought.
"Panchnamas (evaluation) of some districts are awaited. Even yesterday, there was unseasonal rain in some districts. So at the end of the session, we will announce a financial package for the farmers," he said.
Admitting that the Centre has not acted on its demand for Central assistance of Rs 6,013 crore, Khadse said the reason was that after the proposal was sent for it, the state repeatedly faced unseasonal rains and hailstorms.
"The Centre has asked us for a single proposal, which is not possible as the hardships of farmers do not seem to end because of unpredictable climate. But, (Union Home Minister) Rajnath Singh and (Agriculture Minister) Radha Mohan Singh have assured us that the Centre would give more funds to the state than given by the previous governments," he said.