Maharashtra has declared drought in 305 of its 358 talukas and will pay farmers an advance of Rs 5,000 before Diwali, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on October 14.

The advance is small against the scale of the losses, but it is notable for its timing. The government moved relief to October, ahead of the usual full assessment, because the formal process cannot finish before the festival.

The harder tests are on water and income. Groundwater has fallen sharply in Marathwada, the state is adding tankers with GPS tracking, and the loan waiver scheme is being paid out, though the reports gave no amounts.

How quickly the money reaches bank accounts, and what comes after the advance, will decide whether the response meets farmers’ needs.

Fadnavis said, according to NewsDrum, that this Diwali is going to be difficult for farmers.

He said all 12 standard drought concessions will continue in the affected talukas, according to the reports.

These concessions include restructuring of agricultural loans, land revenue concessions, electricity-related relief and assistance for households, according to NewsDrum.

Reports also mention education fee waivers, water tankers and fodder support as part of the relief.

Payments under the state’s farm loan waiver scheme are being credited to beneficiaries’ accounts, according to NewsDrum, which gave no amounts or beneficiary numbers.

Another report says the government has identified 3.5 lakh farmers for the loan waiver scheme, and the process is under way.

Groundwater has fallen sharply, especially in the Marathwada region, according to NewsDrum.

The government is increasing the number of drinking water tankers, introducing GPS tracking for them and has disconnected 16,000 unauthorised water connections, according to the same report.

Measures to address the shortage of fodder for livestock are also planned, according to NewsDrum.

The articles reviewed carried no reaction from opposition parties or farmer organisations to the announcement.

Mantralaya, Mumbai (file image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0