Latur/Nanded, 27 September (H.S.): Congress workers in Maharashtra's Latur and Nanded districts staged protests on Saturday against the state government's drought relief measures, alleging that the announced package was inadequate and that some talukas had been excluded from the list of drought-affected areas.

Earlier in the day, the Maharashtra government declared drought in 265 of the state's 358 talukas, or around 74 per cent, citing rainfall deficit, and announced a series of relief measures.

The measures include restructuring of crop loans, concessions in land revenue and subsidies on electricity bills.

During the protest in Latur, Congress workers alleged that the government had failed to provide adequate relief to drought-hit farmers, labourers and students.

The protesters also raised objections to the exclusion of some talukas from the drought-affected list and demanded wider coverage of relief measures.

The protests were held amid concerns over the impact of rainfall deficiency on agriculture and rural livelihoods in the affected districts.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar