Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stayed with a farming family in Nagpur to understand the hardships caused by the state's drought crisis.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday commended Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for spending Diwali with drought-affected farmers in Lohari Sawanga village, located in the Narkhed taluka of Nagpur. According to the Free Press Journal, the Prime Minister described the Chief Minister's gesture as "very touching."
Fadnavis spent the holiday at the residence of farmers Arunabai and Rambhau Balpande. The Chief Minister stated that witnessing the hardships and worries regarding the future of families facing drought filled his heart with emotion.
The Hindustan Times reported that Fadnavis and his cabinet colleagues visited rural households to support farmers struggling with poor rainfall and weather conditions like El Niño. These conditions have impacted crops including cotton, soybean, and tur.
Fadnavis noted that while the state cannot provide an instant fix for the drought, the government will offer all possible assistance to maintain the spirits of the farmers. He also discussed ways to protect rabi crops during his visit.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis said he drew inspiration for this initiative from the Prime Minister's approach to helping the deprived. He mentioned that the Wainganga-Nalganga river-linking project in Vidarbha aims to bring 10 lakh acres of land under irrigation.
The Chief Minister added that the state will act on memoranda received from villagers and sarpanches regarding issues such as irrigation, roads, and ponds.
