Jalna, Nov 9 (PTI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday asked farmers not to lose hope or take

Jalna, Nov 9 (PTI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday asked farmers not to lose hope or take

Jalna, Nov 9 (PTI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday asked farmers not to lose hope or take

Jalna, Nov 9 (PTI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday asked farmers not to lose hope or take any extreme step amid the drought in the state.

The state government will extend all assistance to them, said Shinde, who celebrated Diwali at the house of farmer Ambadas Tangde in Bhilpuri village.

"Farmers should not lose hope or take any extreme step. The government stands firmly behind them. The farmer has the first right over the government treasury. The government has provided advance financial assistance of Rs 5,000 and would extend further support," Shinde said.

He also announced that mass marriage ceremonies would be organised for the daughters of farmers.

Shinde, who had a meal with the Tangde family in their modest hut, said he would take responsibility for the education and marriage of Tangde's daughter. She is currently studying in Class XII and told Shinde she aspires to join the police force.

"The menu included bajra bhakri, pithla, thecha, shankarpali and rava ladoos," said MLA Arjun Khotkar, who accompanied the Deputy CM along with state minister Sanjay Shirsat.

The farmer's family presented him with bajra, jowar and a portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as tokens of affection, while Shinde gifted clothes to Tangde, his wife and their three children.

Tangde said he had never imagined that a deputy CM would visit his home and share a meal with his family.

"We are extremely happy with his visit. I own just one acre of land and had cultivated soybean this year, but the entire harvest yielded only two sacks," he said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)