top of page

By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Fadnavis writes off Rs 48,000 crore

Mumbai: In a clear indication that the Maharashtra government is leaving no stone unturned to keep the state’s agrarian base happy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has unleashed yet another massive populist measure. Hot on the heels of relaxing the eligibility criteria to ensure a blanket farm loan waiver, the Chief Minister announced a sweeping Rs 48,000 crore waiver on the pending electricity bills of farmers across the state. Addressing a ‘Krutadnyata Sohala’ (gratitude ceremony)...

Fadnavis writes off Rs 48,000 crore

Mumbai: In a clear indication that the Maharashtra government is leaving no stone unturned to keep the state’s agrarian base happy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has unleashed yet another massive populist measure. Hot on the heels of relaxing the eligibility criteria to ensure a blanket farm loan waiver, the Chief Minister announced a sweeping Rs 48,000 crore waiver on the pending electricity bills of farmers across the state. Addressing a ‘Krutadnyata Sohala’ (gratitude ceremony) organized by the BJP Kisan Morcha at Mumbai’s Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan on Wednesday, Fadnavis declared that farmers using agricultural pumps of up to 7.5 horsepower will see their historical electricity dues completely wiped out. The announcement was met with the traditional sounding of the Tutari and thunderous applause from hundreds of farmers who had gathered from every corner of the state. The Chief Minister framed the mega-sop as a necessary step to “wipe the farmers’ slate clean,” enabling them to write a new chapter of prosperity. Calculated Pitch The timing and scale of the announcement underscore a government that is boldly embracing populist economics to solidify its political footprint in rural Maharashtra. While Fadnavis maintained that these decisions were taken purely in the interest of the farmers—pointing out that the original loan waiver was announced when no elections were in sight—the political undertones were unmistakable. Taking a sharp dig at the opposition, the Chief Minister accused rival parties of running “political shops” in the name of farmer agitations without understanding the government’s genuine intent. Asserting his grassroots connection, Fadnavis proudly claimed, “I do not make decisions sitting in my house. I am a farmer myself, a man of the soil.” He openly defended the government’s recent move to strip away the stringent conditions attached to the blanket farm loan waiver, signaling that his administration will not hesitate to clear bureaucratic hurdles if it means putting money directly into the hands of the rural voter. Balancing Sops Even as he rained freebies, the Chief Minister attempted to balance the populist optics with a dose of economic pragmatism. He acknowledged that handing out repeated loan waivers is a symptom of deep-rooted agrarian distress, not a permanent cure. Pointing to the Rs 95,000 crore in aid currently being pumped into the agricultural sector by the state and central governments, Fadnavis outlined his administration’s shift toward an investment-driven agricultural model. He championed the success of schemes like ‘Jalyukt Shivar’ and ‘Magel Tyala Shettale’ (farm ponds on demand), claiming these initiatives have already empowered farmers to harvest multiple crops a year. Addressing the core issue of farming costs, he noted that the government already subsidises power to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore annually. By coupling this with a push for solar pumps and solar agricultural feeders, he promised that 100 percent of the state’s farmers would receive uninterrupted daytime electricity by the end of the year. Infra Dream Looking beyond immediate financial relief, the Chief Minister laid out a grandiose vision to permanently drought-proof Maharashtra’s most vulnerable regions. A staggering Rs 6 lakh crore infrastructure pipeline is being planned to ensure the next generation never witnesses a drought. Fadnavis detailed ambitious river-linking projects, including the Wainganga-Nalganga link, to divert excess floodwaters to parched regions. The state plans to construct 24 new dams and raise the height of 16 existing ones to ensure not a single district in Vidarbha faces water scarcity. Furthermore, massive engineering feats are on the drawing board to divert 200 TMC of floodwater from Western Maharashtra to Marathwada, and lift 275 TMC of wasted water from the Ulhas basin to quench the thirst of North Maharashtra and Marathwada. By marrying immediate, massive debt relief with long-term infrastructure promises, the Fadnavis administration is aggressively cementing its pro-farmer narrative. As the Yashwantrao Chavan auditorium echoed with whistles and cheers, it became highly evident that the government’s strategy of pairing mega populist waivers with big-ticket rural dreams is striking a powerful chord with the state’s agrarian voters.

Guarding the Grey

India’s rising crimes against senior citizens expose a failure of social protection, policing and community responsibility.

AI generated image
AI generated image

India is ageing rapidly. With a growing population of citizens above 60 years, the vulnerability of our elderly has become a stark national concern. The latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in its ‘Crime in India 2022-24’ report reveals a disturbing trend: crimes against senior citizens are not only persistent but showing signs of increase in several states. What was once considered a marginal issue in a traditionally family-centric society is now emerging as a systemic failure of social protection, law enforcement and urban planning.


The NCRB Report presents a comprehensive picture of crimes against senior citizens across states and Union Territories over three years, from 2022-2023. In 2022, the total number of cases stood at 26,996. This rose marginally to 26,306 in 2023 before climbing again to 31,067 in 2024. The overall increase from 2022 to 2024 is approximately 15 percent, indicating a worrying upward trajectory despite slight fluctuations. The rate of crime per lakh senior citizen population (based on 2011 Census figures) reached 30.6 in 2024, up from previous years, with the percentage change highlighting significant spikes in many regions.


Regional Hotspots

A closer look at state-wise data reveals glaring disparities. Madhya Pradesh has recorded the highest number of incidents, with cases rising from 5,187 in 2022 to 5,875 in 2024. Maharashtra, a consistent high-reporting state, saw its figures at 4,918 in 2024. Karnataka witnessed one of the most dramatic surges, jumping from 1,523 cases in 2022 to 4,247 in 2024, reflecting nearly a three-fold increase over the three-year period. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh also feature prominently in the top five, underlining the concentration of such crimes in certain parts of the country.


States like Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan continue to report significant numbers as well, though they fall just outside the top five in 2024. In contrast, many northeastern states and smaller Union Territories report minimal or zero cases, which may reflect lower reporting rates, stronger community bonds, or differing demographic patterns.


The percentage change is particularly alarming. Several states witnessed over 50 to a 100 percent increase between 2022 and 2024. For instance, states like Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and some smaller ones show dramatic percentage hikes, suggesting that even regions previously considered safer are no longer immune. When viewed against the senior citizen population (using 2011 Census as base), the crime rate underscores the disproportionate impact on the elderly in densely populated or urbanising states.


Easy Targets

Several interconnected reasons explain this surge. Urbanisation and migration have fractured joint family structures. Adult children moving to cities or abroad for opportunities leave elderly parents isolated in rural or semi-urban homes, making them soft targets for theft, burglary and physical assault. Financial exploitation, including property disputes, fraud through fake calls or digital scams and coercion by relatives or outsiders, forms a significant chunk of these crimes.


Rapid technological adoption among seniors, often without adequate digital literacy has opened new avenues for cyber fraud. Many elderly people fall prey to phishing, lottery scams or impersonation by fraudsters posing as government officials. Additionally, inadequate policing in residential areas, poor street lighting, and lack of community vigilance exacerbate the problem. Socio-economic factors such as poverty among certain elderly groups and rising inequality further fuel crimes of opportunity.


The psychological toll is immense. Senior citizens, many of whom contributed to nation-building, now live in fear, diminishing their quality of life and dignity in twilight years. Under-reporting is another critical issue; many cases go unreported due to stigma, fear of retaliation or lack of trust in the justice system.


Progress and Gaps

The government has taken some steps to address this vulnerability. The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (amended in 2019) provides for tribunals and maintenance claims but implementation remains patchy. Initiatives like the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC), Senior Citizens Welfare Fund and schemes under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment aim to provide financial support, healthcare and old-age homes.


Police departments in several states have introduced senior citizen cells, help lines (such as 1090 or state-specific numbers) and community policing drives. The ‘Bharat Ke Veer’ or other awareness campaigns occasionally touch upon elder safety. During the pandemic, special provisions were made for doorstep delivery of essentials to seniors. However, these measures often lack coordination, adequate funding and ground-level enforcement. Many states have yet to fully operationalise geriatric-friendly police protocols or integrate senior safety into smart city projects.


The rising crimes against senior citizens demand more than incremental tweaks. We need a national mission-level focus on elder safety, integrating technology, community participation and stringent legal frameworks. Mandatory self-defence training for seniors, widespread installation of CCTV in senior-heavy localities and AI-enabled fraud detection systems could help. Initiatives like strengthening local governance to provide ‘elder-friendly neighbourhoods’ and incentivising family care through tax benefits or subsidies are equally vital. Judicial reforms to fast-track cases involving seniors and awareness campaigns leveraging media and schools to instil respect for elders can rebuild cultural safeguards. Corporates and NGOs must step up with corporate social responsibility projects focused on senior security.


India’s demographic dividend will turn into a demographic challenge if we fail our seniors today. As the country aspires to be a developed nation by 2047, ensuring the safety and dignity of those who built it must be a non-negotiable priority. Let us not allow our elders to become statistics in NCRB reports. It is time for empathy to translate into effective action, before the silent epidemic becomes deafening.


(The writer is a former college Principal and Founder of Supporting Shoulders, an Odisha-based non-profit Trust. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page