Maharashtra agrarian crisis- Farmers to resume protests

More than two months after the Maharashtra government announced a loan waiver, the issue refuses to die as farmer groups have claimed that it is insufficient and have called for yet another agitation. A steering committee comprising most of the state's farmers unit has declared that farmers will block all roads and highways in the state.

“The loan waiver announced by the Maharashtra government is not helping farmers. In fact, even now farmers are committing suicides as they are unable to pay off their loans. We have decided to block the roads on Monday ,“said Nawale, one of the members of the steering committee.

The state government has already given Rs 34,000 re waiver package to farmers in June.

The waiver, however, came with riders as it was only meant for those who had taken a loan of up to Rs 1.50 lakh. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the fiscal situation of the state would not make it possible for giving a bigger loan waiver package.

The farmers groups are, however, demanding that the state do more. “If the state does not have money , then let the Centre pay for it,“ said Nawale to ET. While BJP leaders claimed that the loan waiver package announced by the state has helped most farmers and that the proposed stir does not have the support of most farmers, however, the recent protest in Mumbai by the Maratha community gave a different picture.