₹5,000 crore credited to 6.22 lakh Maharashtra farmers so far under loan waiver scheme: Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday (August 7, 2026) said the State has begun transferring funds under the government's loan waiver scheme, with more
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday (August 7, 2026) said the State has begun transferring funds under the government's loan waiver scheme, with more than ₹5,000 crore credited to the bank accounts of 6.22 lakh farmers after completion of Aadhaar authentication. The funds are being transferred under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Farm Loan Waiver Scheme, launched earlier this year. Under the scheme, short-term crop loans of up to ₹2 lakh of eligible farmers are waived. It covers loans taken between 2019 and 2025. "The first list had around 16 lakh farmers. We sent it for field verification.
After Aadhaar authentication, the first list of about 6.22 lakh farmers was finalised and more than ₹5,000 crore have been deposited into their bank accounts today," Mr. Fadnavis told reporters. He said all eligible farmers would receive the benefit as soon as their Aadhaar authentication is completed. "Our preparations are complete. If we receive the authenticated data in one day, we can transfer the money in one day. The only requirement is that every farmer completes Aadhaar authentication. Once that is done, the process is automatic and the amount is credited," he said.
Opposition parties in the State have been targeting the Mahayuti government over the loan waiver scheme, alleging that restrictive eligibility rules and technical conditions deliberately exclude more than 50% of distressed farmers from receiving benefits. On the preparations for the Nashik Kumbh Mela, Mr. Fadnavis said multiple agencies are carrying out infrastructure works simultaneously because of time constraints. "We have asked every agency to prepare a plan and execute it. Since many works are going on at the same time, coordination is a challenge. The Nashik Municipal Corporation has been instructed to install proper signboards, keep roads motorable during the monsoon as far as possible and take up permanent repairs after the rainy season," he said.
The Chief Minister said tar production had remained suspended for nearly three months due to the war, resulting in a shortage of the material required for road works. "I have written to all central government companies, requesting them to reserve the required quantity of tar for Kumbh Mela works. We are ready to make advance payments so that the material is available whenever needed," he said.
The BriefWire