Drought declared in 265 talukas of Maharashtra; relief package for farmers and crop damage assessment process initiated

The Maharashtra government has declared 265 out of the state's 358 talukas as drought-affected due to inadequate monsoon rainfall during the Kharif season. This announcement is based on the 'Trigger-1' criteria of the Drought Management Code, 2016, and the report submitted by the Agriculture Commissioner. The affected talukas constitute approximately 74% of the total talukas in the state.

Relief in Drought-Affected Areas:

The government has announced several relief measures for affected farmers and rural households. These include waivers on land revenue, rescheduling of agricultural loans, a moratorium on the recovery of agricultural loans, relief on electricity charges for agricultural pumps, waivers on examination fees for students, and the provision of water tankers for drinking water. Additionally, measures will be taken to ensure the availability of fodder, food grains, and water for livestock.

Crop Damage Assessment via *Panchanama*:

The district administration has been instructed to prepare a *panchanama* (official inspection report) for the affected agricultural land. Under this process, crop damage will be assessed at the farm level, and geo-tagged photographs, along with GPS coordinates, will be recorded. This will help make damage assessment more transparent and evidence-based, while ensuring relief reaches the actual beneficiaries.

Drought Management Code, 2016 and Trigger-1:

In India, indicators related to rainfall, agriculture, vegetation, and water are used to assess drought conditions. The Drought Management Code provides an institutional framework for the administration regarding drought identification, area declaration, and relief measures. Based on early indicators like 'Trigger-1', the administration can initiate further detailed assessments and the relief process.

Linkage with Agriculture and Disaster Management:

Drought is not merely a lack of rainfall; it impacts agricultural production, rural income, livestock, food security, drinking water, and rural employment. Consequently, Maharashtra's relief mechanism integrates agricultural credit, electricity, fodder, food grains, water conservation, and drinking water supply. This approach highlights the importance of integrated Disaster Risk Reduction.

Broad Significance for UPSC:

This topic is relevant to Indian Geography and the Monsoon (GS Paper-I); Agriculture, Disaster Management, and Water Resources (GS Paper-III); and Welfare Schemes and Governance (GS Paper-II). Answers can be framed by linking it to climate change, monsoon variability, crop insurance, drought-resistant agriculture, micro-irrigation, water conservation, disaster relief, and climate-smart agriculture. Key sequence to remember: Drought Management Code, 2016 → Multi-indicator based drought assessment → Area notification → *Panchnama*/Damage assessment → Relief and DBT.