As it cemented its alliance with the BJP on Monday, the Shiv Sena secured aid of Rs 12,000 for marginalised landholding farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samman Yojana in Maharashtra. Earlier, the central government in its interim budget, had announced Rs 6,000 aid to farmers holding less than two hectares of agriculture land. This amount is to be disbursed in three instalments to farmers by the central government. Maharashtra government's decision to provide an additional aid of Rs 6,000 per farmer will cost Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 crore to the state exchequer. Around 80 per cent of the farmers in Maharashtra are likely to avail the benefit of this scheme. Minister of Finance & Planning and Forests, Sudhir Mungantiwar, confirmed that the State is working on the scheme. However, the final announcement of the amount will be made in the state budgetary session scheduled for February 28. Sources in the Sena said that when Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis approached Sena president Uddhav Thackeray to finalise the alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Thackeray insisted on increasing the amount of aid under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samman Nidhi scheme. "Uddhav ji categorically told CM Fadnavis that financial aid under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samman Yojana should be increased to Rs 12,000 per marginalised farmer. We had been working on the proposal for some time so it was not a big task. We asked the finance department to work out the plan. This is the focal point of the alliance with the BJP for Sena. Now, Sena can claim it was because of them that farmers in Maharashtra will get Rs 12,000 instead of the earlier Rs 6,000 announced by the central government," said a senior BJP leader requested anonymity. He further said that Thackeray, besides an equal number of seats in LS and state assembly, also asked for a complete loan waiver. "CM Fadnavis responded positively and confirmed that the government had already waived off a majority of farmers' loans. The remaining farmers' loans will also be waived off soon. Thackeray may have gone back on his word of going solo in LS polls, but he wants to emerge as a champion of the farmers. Therefore, during poll campaign, he will take the credit for both these pro-farmer decisions," sources in government added.

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