Farm loan waiver tops Maharashtra’s Rs 97,706 crore supplementary demands

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday tabled supplementary demands worth Rs 97,706.40 crore in the state assembly, including Rs 20,552 crore for the farm loan waiver scheme, with a net additional burden of Rs 74,817.66 crore on the state exchequer.

The supplementary demands were presented on the opening day of the legislature’s monsoon session.

According to the government, Rs 13,825.71 crore has been sought for unavoidable expenditure, Rs 66,559.40 crore for programme-related spending, and Rs 17,321.29 crore for expenditure to be funded through centrally sponsored schemes.

An official note released by the government said that despite the gross supplementary demands of Rs 97,706.40 crore, the actual financial burden would be Rs 74,817.66 crore after adjustments and recoveries.

The largest proposed allocation is Rs 20,552 crore for the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana, 2026, the state’s farm loan waiver scheme.

The supplementary demands come amid continued calls from the Opposition for a complete farm loan waiver with minimal technical conditions. Earlier this month, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar staged a protest seeking the removal of what he described as “stringent” conditions attached to the scheme and demanding a blanket loan waiver for farmers.

The government has proposed Rs 10,007.10 crore towards interest-free loans under the Centre’s Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment scheme.

A further Rs 8,000 crore has been earmarked for repayment of loans and interest liabilities of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL).

The proposals also include Rs 7,367.32 crore for the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) programme, covering both central and state shares, and Rs 4,000 crore for payment of electricity bills of government offices through a unified billing system.

The state has sought Rs 3,076 crore for the AMRUT 2.0 mission, which aims to make cities water-secure and self-sustaining, and Rs 3,000 crore for planning and execution of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela.

Other major allocations include Rs 2,722.42 crore for electricity tariff subsidies for agricultural pumps, powerlooms, textile and industrial consumers, and Rs 2,360.06 crore for scholarship schemes covering tuition and examination fees.

The government has also proposed Rs 2,000 crore for beneficiaries under the Shravanbal Seva State Pension Scheme and Rs 1,874.38 crore for disabled and general category beneficiaries under the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana.

A sum of Rs 1,734.92 crore has been earmarked for honorarium and salaries of anganwadi workers, while Rs 1,100 crore has been proposed for projects of the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation.

Among other allocations, Rs 1,000 crore each has been proposed for Swachh Maharashtra Abhiyan (Urban) 2.0 and as equity contribution to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation for the Revas-Reddi coastal highway project.

The supplementary demands further include Rs 942.50 crore for employment guarantee schemes, Rs 777 crore as equity contribution to district central cooperative banks, Rs 744.45 crore for the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana and Rs 600 crore for the development and commercial complex plan around the Shri Vitthal-Rukmini temple precinct in Pandharpur.

Department-wise, the Cooperation, Marketing and Textiles Department has been allocated the highest supplementary provision of Rs 22,015.42 crore.

It is followed by the Urban Development Department with Rs 15,152.43 crore and the Industries, Energy, Labour and Mining Department with Rs 14,760.48 crore.

The Finance Department is proposed to receive Rs 9,934 crore, while the Planning Department has been allocated Rs 9,539.03 crore.

According to the government, the Public Works Department is set to receive Rs 5,361.90 crore, while the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department and the Public Health Department have been allocated Rs 3,481.01 crore and Rs 3,061.26 crore, respectively.