'Not Aid But Mockery Of Farmers': Sena (UBT) MLA Kailas Patil Criticises ₹5,000 Assistance To Cultivators Ahead of Diwali

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Kailas Patil on October 14, 2026, criticised Maharashtra's advance assistance of ₹5,000 to drought-stricken farmers ahead of Diwali, calling it insufficient. Patil questioned how the farmer, who has been devastated by the drought and whose finances have been eroded by inflation, could celebrate Diwali with such a small handout.

The MLA argued that the assistance was a mockery of the farmers' plight, as 81% of panchnamas had been conducted, surveys of farms and dams had been completed, and the government had promised to aid all farmers. Patil pointed out that if the government had given assistance on the day it declared a drought, it would have been justifiable to call it advance assistance.

However, the MLA was critical of the government's actions, stating that it was discussing advance assistance even after taking these steps. Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced drought assistance in December, but this year, the state declared a drought earlier and expedited the process, with the financial aid expected to reach around 1 lakh to 1.25 lakh farmers.