Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has called on Shiv Sena ministers, MPs, MLAs and party office-bearers to step up relief efforts in drought-affected areas and ensure that assistance reaches farmers and rural families without delay.
Shinde chaired a virtual meeting with party representatives and office-bearers to discuss measures to provide immediate support to people affected by the drought. He urged leaders to personally visit farmers and rural households and help them access government assistance, from submitting applications and completing surveys to ensuring that approved relief reaches the intended beneficiaries.
Against the backdrop of the drought, Shiv Sena has sent 4.60 lakh grain kits to 179 drought-affected talukas as part of its Dussehra rally-related relief initiative. Shinde stressed that sending supplies alone was not enough and directed party representatives to ensure that the kits reached needy families.
He also called on local office-bearers to arrange essential daily necessities alongside the grain kits and take responsibility for their distribution. Given the severe drinking water shortage in several areas, he said the party would consider providing water tankers to every village.
Shinde instructed each Shiv Sena minister to take responsibility for the drought-affected areas assigned to them and conduct regular field visits. Rather than limiting their efforts to meetings, leaders should visit farms, villages, markets and water-scarce areas to interact directly with farmers, women, agricultural labourers, livestock rearers and other residents, he said.
He also urged party leaders to avoid lavish programmes, elaborate receptions, public displays of strength and unnecessary expenditure on pandals, publicity, banners and hoardings during the drought. The resources saved should instead be directed towards relief and assistance.
Shinde further emphasised that aid must reach every eligible beneficiary irrespective of political affiliation, caste or village, stressing the need for impartial distribution of relief.