The Budget session of Maharashtra Legislature got under way here on Wednesday, with Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao announcing that the BJP-led government in the State has disbursed ₹2,536 crore to the drought-affected farmers.

“The state is facing drought for the fourth successive year and nearly 15,750 villages are adversely affected in the current Kharif season,” Rao said addressing a joint sitting of the Houses.

“The Central Government has approved relief assistance of ₹3,049-crore, which is the highest-ever given to Maharashtra. My government, till date, has disbursed ₹2,536-crore to the drought-hit farmers,” he said. “My government has decided to extend relief assistance to those who suffered crop loss, house damage due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm during 2015. The Union government has revised the norms of relief assistance under State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF),” he said.

Accordingly, the state government has adopted the enhanced financial assistance norms with effect from 1st April, 2015, he said.

“My government has taken a decision to waive three months’ interest on the crop loans availed by the farmers who lost their crop due to natural calamities during November-December 2014 and February-March 2015.

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