Compensation must reach disaster-hit farmers: Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai, Jan 5 (IANS) Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray Monday announced that his party would see to it that the recent compensation announced by the state government for the hailstorm hit farmers reaches the affected people.

"We will ensure that the compensation announced by the government reaches the right people...We shall do our best for the farmers," Thackeray said here.

He observed that the state government has lagged behind in providing relief to the farmers grappling with drought and unseasonal rain, adding that he plans to tour the affected regions again.

Thackeray's announcement came after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently announced compensation for the farmers hit by the spell of hailstorms and unseasonal rain which resulted in crop damage in vast tracts of farmland in several parts of the state.

The Sena chief was speaking to the media on his forthcoming five-day exhibition of around 70 photographs opening at Jehangir Art Gallery here Jan 7.

The exhibition will be inaugurated by tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain and the proceeds from the sale of the pictures will go to provide relief to the distressed farmers and their families in the 'suicide belts' of the state, Thackeray added.

His pictures of ancient temples shot in Cambodia, of polar bears in the freezing regions of Canada and some 'infra-red' photos taken over the past 11 years will be on display.

"The 'click' of my camera always thrills...We must enjoy this art, but must not forget the tears of the farmers. If we are able to save the lives of one or two farmers by this effort, I will consider it as fortunate," he said.

Earlier, in his previous exhibition a decade ago, pictures of wildlife, forts of Maharashtra built during the era of Chhatrapati Shivaji and some prominent temples of the state shot by him were exhibited.