Maharashtra Cabinet at its meeting held on Wednesday evening has taken a decision to provide a Rs 4,000 crore special package for farmers affected in over 165 talukas due to hailstorm and untimely rains. Today's decision was taken after seeking necessary approval of the Election Commission as the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls was in place.
The state government has already made an appeal to the Centre to provide an assistance of Rs 5,000 crore to tackle the present crisis. Two central groups met today but the decision is still awaited.
The state government's package comes at a time when about 23 farmers suicides were reported so far as the hailstorm and unseasonal rainfall has damaged crops on 1.7 million hectare.
The government official said the decision to waive off interest of Rs 268 crore on crop loan was also taken at today's Cabinet meeting. Further, farmers will also be exempted from the payment of electricity bills worth Rs 200 crore.
The farmers with minimum two hectare will be entitled for the benefit relief package. Besides, farmers will get an assistance of Rs 25,000 per hectare.
