CM directs officials to help farmer choose a healthy bull

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday directed officials to take Kashinath Gaikwad, a distressed and landless farmer from Latur rural, to a cattle market so he can personally choose a healthy bull. The directive followed criticism of the replacement provided to him, which was found unwell.

Gaikwad had lost one of his bulls to a lightning strike on June 5, which forced him to yoke his wife, Hausabai, to plough the field ahead of the monsoon. The animal husbandry department had on Wednesday supplied a replacement bull to Gaikwad of Bombli village in Latur rural. But instead of relief, the gesture only deepened his plight — the animal turned out to be unfit for farm work.

Fadnavis acknowledged the lapse during a press conference in Mumbai and said: “Four days ago, we came across a heart-rending report from Latur. The farmer had lost his bull and was forced to yoke his wife to the plough to continue cultivation. We immediately instructed the district collector to provide compensation and arrange a replacement animal. It, however, appears the bull provided was not appropriate. I have now directed the collector to take the farmer to the market and allow him to purchase a bull of his choice.”

The couple’s ordeal drew widespread attention after a video went viral on social media, showing Hausabai yoked to the plough. Though govt responded swiftly by providing the replacement bull, the move backfired as images of the frail animal lying helpless in the field soon surfaced, fuelling a fierce opposition attack.

Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal asked if the assistance was genuine relief or merely a publicity exercise. Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar also accused govt of being insensitive towards the farming community. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar also criticised the administration on X, posting a picture of the bull lying in the field and raising concerns about the govt’s approach to farmers’ welfare.

Following the CM’s orders, the district administration led by collector Bharat Bastewad is expected to facilitate the purchase of a suitable bull for the Gaikwads at the earliest.