In a boost for Maharashtra’s farming community, the state budget for 2026-27, tabled by CM Devendra Fadnavis, introduces a comprehensive loan waiver scheme. Valued at ₹7.69 lakh crore, the budget prioritizes welfare, with Deputy CM Eknath Shinde terming it pivotal for social good.
The flagship ‘Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjamaafi Yojana’ targets small loans up to ₹2 lakh pending as on September 30, 2025, offering liberation from debt traps for countless tillers. This move actualizes the Mahayuti government’s pre-poll assurances, signaling reliability in policy delivery.
Post-budget, Shinde engaged with the media, reminiscing about his CM days when he first mooted the idea. ‘Today, with Fadnavis and Ajit Dada’s vision, that promise is reality. Farmers, this is your victory,’ he proclaimed.
Shinde lauded PM Modi’s economic stewardship, propelling India to global third rank. He lambasted the opposition’s pattern of PM-bashing for TRP gains.
A tribute to the late Ajit Pawar featured prominently, with Shinde stressing the need for a worthy memorial reflecting his developmental legacy—a provision now budgeted.
Support poured in from party ranks. Nilesh Rane appreciated the inclusive approach, while Yogesh Kadam highlighted the waiver’s transformative potential, crediting leadership duo.
This fiscal blueprint extends beyond farms, weaving in broader developmental threads, yet the loan amnesty stands out as a game-changer, poised to reshape rural finances and political narratives.