Mah CM reviews implementation of farmers relief package

Mumbai, Aug 3 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today held a review meeting of implementation of the relief package announced by the state government and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for the farmers in six districts of Vidarbha region.

Mr Deshmukh said schemes of supplementary income for the farmers in these areas would be implemented more effectively by giving financial assistance to encourage them to have poultry,rear goat and sheep.

Under this scheme, the government would bear 75 per cent of the financial assistance and if the beneficiary is not able to part take 25 per cent of the share, the government would step in, he added.

Self help groups would be set up for collection of milk from animals in these areas and efforts would also be taken to increase the milk giving capacity of animals, he said.

The Chief Minister said Buldhana has been added to the five districts from Vidarbha which have been made part of the National Horticulture Mission. The state government would urge the Centre to allow crops as per the weather conditions in these areas.

Mr Deshmukh asked Maharashtra state co-operative bank and NABARD to fulfill the responsibility of re-financing the farmers in suicide prone areas as the state government and the Centre have waived off interest on the existing loans.

It was also decided at the meeting that construction of 100 small dam projects would be taken up under the Vidarbha Watershed Development Mission in the next two months. Organic farming would be encouraged, Mr Deshmukh said.

So far, Mr Deshmukh said Rs 951 cr crop loan has been disbursed and under the Prime Minister's package Rs 1275 crore target has been kept as crop loan.

Under the state government's package, Rs 10.21 crore have been disbursed as relief in 1021 cases. As part of the loan re-scheduling, arrears to the tune of Rs 236.88 crore of 420441 farmers have been cleared, he said.

127 cases have been filed against illegal money lenders and 98.11 hectare of land has been cleared which was held by them, he added.

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