Uddhav Thackeray assures help to drought-affected farmers in Marathwada

Mumbai: Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray today said his party will stand firmly behind the farmers affected by drought in various parts of Maharashtra. "We will also take care of education of children of the drought-hit farmers," Thackeray, who is on a visit of the drought-hit areas of Marathwada, said in Parbhani district of the region.

The Sena leader is in Marathwada today to disburse financial assistance to the affected farmers. Shiv Sena will give Rs 10,000 to each affected farmer," he said. The Sena leader is visiting farmers affected by crop loss due to drought, unseasonal rains and hailstorm in Parbhani, Jalna and Nanded districts.

"He will also give essential items to each affected family. The effort is to help them mitigate their difficulties and overcome them. They should not contemplate suicide," a party leader said.

Thackeray visited some of the affected villages in October and distributed financial help, food grains and sweets for Diwali festival and also agriculture equipment to the affected farmers and the kin of suicide victims. During the present visit, Sena MLAs will also meet and interact with affected farmers, besides visiting the affected lands in these areas.

They will also meet the revenue and agriculture officers including district collectors, zilla parishad chief executive officers, tehsildars and block development officers.

The team will also examine the measures taken by the state/Central governments to tackle the drought condition, like deployment of water tankers, works under Employment Gurantee Scheme and others programmes along with the works under the Jalyukata Shivar Scheme.