Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today told the Legislative Assembly that a proposal is being prepared to make farmers "debt-free", which will be forwarded to Centre.
The CM's statement came at a time when the Congress and the NCP have been vociferously raising the demand for complete loan waiver for farmers in Maharashtra. The protests by the Opposition has paralysed the functioning of the ongoing Budget session of the state legislature.
Fadnavis said his government's task is to bring 31 lakh farmers who are not in a position to repay their debt, back into the institutional credit system.
The chief minister said he had led a delegation to union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and sought assistance from the Central Government to make farmers debt free.
"If we do it (loan waiver) on our own, the fiscal space would be over for us. Over the last few years, agriculture sector has been restricted to only relief and rehabilitation, but my Government has focused on agriculture investment. The Centre will prepare a pan-India scheme to provide relief to farmers.
"We have suggested that the scheme should be participatory where state governments can also make contribution and send the proposal," Fadnavis told the House.
He said the agriculture income in state has increased by Rs 40,000 crore in the last one year.
On the measures taken by the state government for making agriculture sustainable, Fadnavis said the agriculture income increased by Rs 40,000 crore as the agri growth rate has seen an increase of 12.5 per cent.
He said the farmers in the state cannot afford the minimum support price (MSP) because the agriculture productivity is less in Maharashtra, which "ranks among the last five states in terms of agriculture productivity."
The CM said the agricultural investment was less due to "thin spreading of resources."
He said the 41 lakh hectare irrigation potential was achieved in the last one year.
The government has so far procured 28 lakh quintal tur so far, he added.
"We are in process of providing water through investments in the 'Jalyukta Shivar' scheme and power connections to over 2 lakh agri pumps. Our approach and investment in agriculture is showing positive results. For first time, the agri growth rate is positive and in double digits," the CM said.
Fadnavis said the proposed "Maharashtra Samruddhi Corridor" (Mumbai Nagpur expressway) is for farmers as it will give them market connectivity. "22 nodes on this corridor are for them," he said.
Fadnavis said the government wanted to achieve the "post-harvest management and market linkages for farmers through the Smaruddhi Corridor.
"We are confident that Centre is with us. It is working for the welfare of welfare. The state government is committed to the welfare and betterment of farmers. We are making every possible effort to help and support them," the CM said.
Referring to the opposition boycotting the proceedings
of the legislature, the chief minister said the government was not "pleased" to suspend 19 MLAs.
"The way they behaved, one wondered if they were making a mockery of the farmers' plight or fighting for their welfare. Budget presentation is an important event. They could have squatted on the floor of the House or raised slogans.
"But, their behaviour while protesting against the budget presentation was not good. If they had listened to the budget, they would have known that the government was committed to free farmers of debt. What was worse was that they burnt the budget copies. Budget is a constitutional document. If this act is tolerated what is the use of this august House?" he asked.
On Wednesday, nineteen MLAs--nine from the Congress and 10 from the NCP--were suspended from the Assembly for nine months for creating a ruckus during the Budget presentation in the House last week.
Fadnavis said a severe action was needed to be taken against them.
"The behaviour of the suspended MLAs was not in accordance with the Parliamentary decorum. It was tantamount to making a mockery of a serious issue of farmers' plight," he said.
Fadnavis said Shiv Sena has given full support to the Budget that was presented in the legislature last week after he explained the government's position to the Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.
"I spoke to him and explained our position. He has given full support to the budget," the CM said, adding that the BJP-led governments in Centre and Maharashtra are committed to extending relief to the farmers.
