BBC Verify has examined dozens of videos of fibre-optic drone attacks carried out by the Lebanese armed group.
Hezbollah drone strike videos show evolving tactics against Israel
Activists troll far-right UK rally with giant pro-immigration clip | Islamophobia
Activist group Led By Donkeys has snuck a big screen streaming pro-immigration messages into a far-right Unite the Kingdom march. The stunt prompted boos from the crowd and attempts to shut the screen down. Tens of thousands of people attended the rally.
Published On 17 May 2026
Which 1.5 Ton 5 Star Split AC should you buy in 2026? 5 models worth considering for lower electricity bills (HT Tech)
If you have decided to buy a 1.5 Ton 5-Star Split AC for your home in 2026, the goal is simple – maximum cooling while minimizing electricity bills. These ACs are ideal for medium to large sized Indian bedrooms as they provide fast cooling without making much noise. what’s more? They also come with features like air filters that provide clean air in the room so there is no need to add a separate device for it.
Factors to Consider While Buying a 1.5-Ton 5 Star Split AC
That said, there are many factors other than energy rating that users need to keep in mind while choosing the right 1.5 ton split AC for their homes. Here are the most important:
– ISEER Rating: Look for a high Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ISEER) rating. For a 5-star split AC this value should be 4.5 and above.
– Inverter Technology: Look for ACs with inverter technology that adjust compressor speed depending on the heat load. It provides stable cooling and can save up to 30-50% on electricity bills compared to non-inverter models.
– Temperature Support: Indian summers are becoming more brutal every year, which means regular ACs that provide coolness up to 48 degrees Celsius will not be enough. Therefore, look for an AC that can provide cooling when the temperature crosses 50 degrees Celsius.
– Condenser Coil Material: Always select 100% copper coil. Copper offers better heat transfer and is easier to repair than aluminum.
– Variable Mode: Look for features like 5-in-1 or 7-in-1 convertibility. This allows you to adjust the cooling capacity of the compressor depending on the cooling load, which in turn saves energy and helps reduce electricity bills.
– Air Filtration System: Finally, look for an AC with a high-quality filter like PM 2.5 or PM 0.1. These are essential for removing dust and allergens from indoor air.
So, if you are looking for a 1.5-ton split AC for your home, I have compiled a list of the best 1.5-ton 5 star split AC in India for you. I have prepared it for you based on the factors mentioned above. I have used hundreds of ACs of both split and window models, read a bunch of Reddit posts on the technologies used in modern ACs, the materials used and their efficiency and energy rating system in India, and looked at buyers’ reactions on Amazon.
Best 1.5-Ton 5 Star Split AC in India
This split AC from LG combines premium design with powerful cooling and energy efficiency. It features a smooth indoor unit with hidden display and durable copper condenser with Gold Fin+ protection for long life. It is powered by LG’s AI Dual Inverter Compressor, which provides faster cooling with low noise and low power consumption. This 6-in-1 comes with convertible cooling mode that optimizes capacity depending on the usage, while the Virat mode ensures faster cooling in extreme summers. Additional features like anti-virus protection, HD filter with auto-clean and stabilizer-free operation add convenience. It has a rating of 4.0 out of 5 on Amazon.
What are buyers saying on Amazon?
Buyers find this AC to be of good quality, with positive feedback regarding its low noise level, silent operation and energy efficiency. They appreciate the features, especially the AI technology and multiple cooling modes. Cooling performance and overall performance receive mixed reviews.
Why should you choose this product?
Buyers should choose this AC for its energy saving features.
This split AC from Voltas features a clean, minimalist indoor unit design with a hidden display and durable copper condenser for long-lasting performance. It is powered by an inverter compressor, which adjusts cooling based on room conditions to save energy. It also has a 4-in-1 adjustable mode that lets you control the tonnage as per requirement, further reducing power consumption. It can cool spaces even when the ambient temperature reaches 52 degrees Celsius and has anti-dust filters to keep your room dust free. Additionally, it offers stabilizer-free operation, making it suitable for Indian conditions. It has a rating of 4.0 out of 5 on Amazon.
What are buyers saying on Amazon?
Buyers find this AC to be of good quality, effective in cooling the room quickly and with low noise level and value for money. Power and cooling performance receive positive feedback.
Why should you choose this product?
Buyers should choose this AC for its energy saving features and cooling performance.
This split AC from Godrej is designed for efficient cooling in the Indian summer with a clean, minimalist indoor unit and durable copper condenser. It is powered by an inverter compressor, which dynamically adjusts cooling to reduce power consumption. It comes with a 5-in-1 convertible cooling mode that lets you control the capacity from 40% to 110%, balancing comfort and energy savings. It also has i-Sense technology, which senses the temperature around you through the remote for personalized cooling. This AC can cool spaces even when the ambient temperature reaches 52 degrees Celsius. This AC has got a rating of 3.8 out of 5 on Amazon.
What are buyers saying on Amazon?
Buyers find this AC to be of good quality and value for money. However, customers have expressed concerns about its durability.
Why should you choose this product?
Buyers should choose this AC for its energy saving features and cooling performance.
This split AC from Blue Star blends modern design with efficient cooling performance. It features a clean white indoor unit with hidden display and a durable 100% copper condenser for long-term reliability. It is powered by an inverter rotary compressor, which dynamically adjusts cooling to reduce energy consumption. It also gets 5-in-1 convertible cooling modes that enable flexible capacity control. It has features like turbo mode, sleep mode and dehumidification for better comfort. On the filtration front, it is equipped with a PM2.5 and dust filter, which improves air quality. It has got a rating of 3.7 out of 5 on Amazon.
What are buyers saying on Amazon?
Buyers find this AC to be of good quality and good cooling performance. However, customers have expressed concerns about its installation.
Why should you choose this product?
Buyers should choose this AC for its energy saving features and cooling performance.
This split AC from Carrier combines premium design with smart cooling. It features a smooth indoor unit with a hidden LED display and durable 100% copper condenser for long-lasting performance. It is powered by a variable-speed inverter compressor, which ensures efficient cooling while minimizing power usage. It offers 6-in-1 FlexiCool Convertible technology with geo-fencing, allowing customized cooling based on the needs of the room. With this AC you also get Wi-Fi, app control and voice assistant compatibility. On the filtration front, this AC is equipped with PM2.5 and HD filters, which improves indoor air quality. It has got a rating of 4.1 out of 5 on Amazon.
What are buyers saying on Amazon?
Buyers find this AC to be of good quality and good cooling performance. However, customers have expressed concerns about its installation.
Why should you choose this product?
Buyers should choose this AC for its energy saving features and cooling performance.
Top 3 Features of Best 1.5 Ton 5 Star Split AC in India
Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay updated with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a share of the revenue when you make a purchase. We will not be liable for any claims under applicable laws including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 in relation to the Products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.
Tata Trusts ordered to defer today’s board meets
Maharashtra’s charity commissioner has ordered Tata Trusts to defer board meetings and launched an inquiry into complaints filed by vice-chairman Venu Srinivasan and advocate Katyayani Agrawal, stating that “the issues highlighted by them are serious and require due consideration.” The development deepens a governance dispute at one of India’s most influential philanthropic institutions where Srinivasan has been a trustee for a decade since the late Ratan Tata appointed him.In an order signed on Friday by commissioner Amogh Kaloti, the regulator directed the Trusts not to convene any meetings until the inquiry report is submitted. The Trusts — the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) and Tata Education and Development Trust — subsequently informed trustees that Saturday’s planned sessions had been cancelled.Kaloti had on May 13 directed a formal inquiry into complaints by Agrawal, who had filed a representation on April 18, and Srinivasan, who lodged a similar complaint on April 28, alleging violations of the Maharashtra Public Trusts (MPT) Act. The move followed a Bombay high court order the same day which, while permitting petitioner Suresh Tulsiram Patilkhede to withdraw his plea, recorded that representations had been made to the commissioner alleging violations of September 2025 amendments to the MPT Act capping perpetual trustees on a charity board at 25%. The court also recorded the petitioner’s contention that convening the Trusts meeting on May 16 would be contrary to the statutory mandate.Reacting to the order, the Trusts on Friday said they were examining the commissioner’s directions, adding that, as they understood it, the directions pertain only to SRTT and were issued ex parte, without prior notice or hearing being afforded to the Trust. They also said SRTT was “not aware of any complaint having been filed by Srinivasan until receipt of the commissioner’s directions,” noting that he had earlier acknowledged notices of board meetings scheduled for May 8 and later rescheduled to May 16.Of SRTT’s six trustees, three — Noel Tata, the chairman, Jimmy Tata and Jehangir Jehangir — are perpetual trustees. The remaining three, Srinivasan, Vijay Singh and Darius Khambata, are non-perpetual. Under the amended Act, a trust of this size can have only one perpetual trustee.Agrawal had argued that with perpetual trustees accounting for 50% of the SRTT board — double the statutory cap — decisions taken by the Trust after the law was amended were liable to be treated as invalid.The Trusts said the amendment is prospective in nature and does not impact appointments of perpetual trustees made prior to Sept 1, 2025, a view they said is supported by legal opinions and clarifications obtained by them.The dispute plays out against a broader rift between Noel and Srinivasan over the listing of Tata Sons, with Srinivasan in favour and Noel opposed. Both sit on the Tata Sons board. Saturday’s cancelled meeting was to review the Trusts’ nominees on the Tata Sons board and take up the matter of Srinivasan and Singh’s support for a Tata Sons IPO.Kaloti warned that allowing the board to meet while the inquiry was pending could create “further complications and multiplicity of proceedings,” particularly on questions of the Trust’s administration, management or composition. “It would therefore be in the interest of the Trust as well as in the interest of justice that such meeting is deferred,” he stated.
The Chinese agents accused of spying on expats in US
“It’s part of the same sort of strategic approach, which is to tamp down on dissent and to shape a clear narrative around the PRC, and to do that in bolder ways, as we’re seeing,” said Lauryn Williams, a deputy director with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which has tracked cases of Chinese espionage in the US since 2000.
CEA proposes sharp rise in fixed monthly power charges for consumers
NEW DELHI: Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has proposed a nationwide overhaul of electricity tariffs, recommending a sharp increase in fixed monthly charges paid by consumers as power distributors struggle to recover costs amid rising rooftop solar adoption and migration of industries to captive power.The proposal could eventually mean consumers paying a larger portion of their bill as a compulsory monthly charge, regardless of actual power consumption.In a report, which will be placed before the Forum of Regulators for implementation, CEA said discoms recover a large part of their fixed costs through per-unit electricity charges instead of assured monthly payments, making their finances vulnerable whenever demand falls.While expenditure on transmission, salaries, maintenance of networks and paym-ents to power generators account for 38%-56% of a power utility’s cost, revenue from fixed charges contributes only 9%-20%, the report said.CEA noted that industries and affluent households shifting to rooftop solar, open access and captive power projects, sharply reduce electricity purchases from discoms but continue relying on the grid for backup supply.The authority has recommended a “calibrated and phased approach” for targeted recovery by progressively increasing fixed-cost recovery from domestic and agriculture consumers to 25% and from industrial, commercial and institutional categories to 100% by 2030. The fixed-cost recovery for the former could be increased.The report also suggested separate tariff structures for rooftop solar and net-metering consumers.
Chinese Horoscope Today, 17 May 2026 | horoscope news
Last updated:
Ganesha provides Chinese zodiac horoscopes, detailing daily fortunes, work and money issues, family tensions, health concerns and emotional ups and downs for all twelve zodiac signs.
news18
rat horoscope today: Ganeshji says that today you will be a little troubled due to domestic and professional work coming together, but with someone’s support you will be able to get rid of it. You may have to lose respect due to some of your shortcomings. Today you will do most of the work without worrying about profit or loss. Financial situation will be normal, yet if unnecessary expenses are not controlled, you may get into trouble. The stubborn behavior of your family members will trouble you, but your success will also be hidden behind it. Women will be busy managing the household throughout the day. Plans for a long journey will come true today. This will bring mental peace as well as financial benefits.
bull horoscope todayGaneshji says that today you will make many plans in the beginning of the day, but due to laziness or carelessness they will get delayed, yet today you will be entitled to benefits by working according to your thinking. You will cooperate with your subordinates in the workplace and you will get the same treatment in return. There will be sudden financial gain today. Any work related to money will not stop today. Women will be happy today when their wishes are fulfilled, but their nature will be to find shortcomings in the work of others. There will be peace in the house. Health will also be normal.
tiger horoscope today: Ganesha says that you can avoid unnecessary disputes by spending the first part of the day in silence or in prayer. There is a possibility of gossip about you at the workplace today. Avoid doing any unethical work. Absurd statements from family members will cause mental disturbance as well as anger, yet today you will adopt sensible behavior and the situation will start turning in your favor in the afternoon. Financial gains may not be as expected, yet expenses will be covered. Employed people will get respect today for completing a complex task with their intelligence. There will be discord in the family environment and there will be sadness in the minds of women.
rabbit horoscope today: Ganeshji says that from the beginning of the day you will make a plan in your mind to earn money, but due to less support, there will be a delay in its fruition, yet today you will get many opportunities to earn money and take advantage of them, there will be sudden financial gain in the evening. Business will run better than before and the trend of lending will reduce. Investments made in shares or other risky activities today will prove profitable in future. The family atmosphere will become pleasant after noon. Relations with close relatives and neighbors will be cordial. There may be lack of communication due to differences with siblings.
dragon horoscope today: Ganeshji says that today you will be satisfied with all the work done by you. On the contrary, women will experience some shortcomings in life. Today, even if your daily routine is organized, you will get less opportunities for profit. You will get contracts in the workplace but due to carelessness you will not be able to take proper advantage of them. There will be criticism due to some mistake in the middle of the day, yet no matter what anyone says to you today, you will not get angry easily. Family members, especially elders, will be worried about your careless nature. You will plan a long trip in your mind, but doing so now can harm your financial and physical condition.
snake horoscope today: Ganeshji says today your confidence will increase; Whatever work you decide to do, you will complete it sooner or later. Financial situation will also be good today, you will take decisions quickly and will not shy away from taking risks, financial benefits will not be as expected, but will still be more than required. Due to progress in business, the number of people who are jealous of you will increase today, yet no one will be able to cause you any harm today. Today women will praise themselves and their family a lot in front of other people and can also become a laughing stock in the public sector. Physical health will remain intact.
Horse Horoscope Today: Ganesha says that today you need to be more alert in the first part of the day, your mind will be affected by negative emotions due to confusion about the work being done. Women may suffer some major loss. Circumstances will start becoming favorable for you from afternoon, yet today your fickle mind will keep you away from profit. Businessmen will not be able to take proper decisions due to being in a state of dilemma. Do not make any promise to anyone in a hurry today, if you do not fulfill it, you may get humiliated. Today your attention will be more towards entertainment. You will lighten up the environment with your funny behavior; You will have to spend even if you don’t want to. You will experience improvement in health.
Goat Horoscope Today: Ganesha says that the first part of the day will bring you both success and respect. There will be financial benefits from already organized work and you will also invest in new work. But after noon you will have to face disputes at home or workplace. You will feel helpless as your opponents become stronger. Today some of your wrong conduct in the family may be exposed. Do not argue with anyone, otherwise the consequences can be serious. There is also a possibility of you getting entangled in government complications today. There will be temptations at the workplace, so keep distance from them too. Women’s nature will be fierce most of the time today and they will argue on every matter. Financial profits will be less than normal. There is a possibility of seasonal disease.
Monkey Horoscope Today: Ganeshji says that due to your careless nature at the beginning of the day, there may be delay or loss in some important work. There will be a delay in work today due to some reason. You will have to work hard till afternoon, which will result in success in the evening. There will be less competition in business today but still you will have to face some or the other due to financial reasons. Government work may get stuck in the end due to some shortage while getting done, but if you keep trying, you will soon get success. Women today will be troubled by pain in the head or other body parts, yet they will complete their daily work on time.
Today’s Horoscope: Ganeshji says that today you will see a unique talent. The sharpness of your views on the social field will please people. You will develop new relationships with your intelligence and tact; You will soon get financial and other practical benefits from them. You will be introduced to highly respected people of the society. Today even your opponents will praise you. Work will remain slow till afternoon, after which the busyness will suddenly increase. Women associated with job or business will earn more profits than men today and will also keep their family members happy by providing them gifts and other facilities. Health will remain weak for some time.
Dog Horoscope Today: Ganeshji says that even today the situation will remain the same in the beginning of the day. If your health does not support you, you will not have enthusiasm for work. By afternoon the situation will start becoming normal but even after getting professional work today, you will remain confused due to lack of clarity in the situation. To get financial benefits you will have to help or flatter someone. Women will play an important role in saving the family from financial and other problems today, but will also appreciate it later. You may have to visit friends and relatives. You will spend the evening time more peacefully than the day. Do not do any transaction related to money today.
Pig Horoscope Today: Ganeshji says that except the first part of the day, the rest of the time will be full of turmoil. In the beginning of the day, you will be in a happy mood and the family atmosphere will also be pleasant, but around noon there is a possibility of getting sad news from someone. Due to sudden deterioration in your or your family’s health, you will have to run around extra. Today you will not be able to pay much attention to your work, due to which profits will be limited. Women will also remain mentally distracted today due to some reason or the other and will not be able to take any concrete decision due to changing thoughts from moment to moment. In terms of money, the day will be one of more expenditure than income.
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Iraq’s new PM Ali al-Zaidi formally takes over | Newsfeed
Iraq’s new prime minister Ali al‑Zaidi has formally taken office in Baghdad, pledging sweeping economic and financial reforms. Al-Zaidi only has a partial cabinet as parliament is yet to approve key ministers, including interior and defence.
Published On 17 May 2026
PFC, REC boards clear merger, seek approval from President
NEW DELHI: The boards of state-run power sector financiers Power Finance Corporation and REC Limited on Saturday decided to move ahead with the proposal to merge the two entities.In separate stock exchan-ge filings, both companies said their boards had cleared reserving the merger proposal for approval of President of India, as required under their Articles of Association.The filings clarified that REC would be merged into PFC under sections 230-232 of Companies Act, 2013. Once the merger becomes effective, all assets and liabilities of REC will be transferred to PFC, and the former will cease to exist as a separate entity.Govt had announced the merger in the Union Budget, with both boards granting in-principle approval on Feb 6.REC said in its exchange filing that the share exchange ratio had not yet been finalised and would be determined by valuers appointed for the purpose. The companies also did not indicate any timeline for completion of the merger or spell out the future management structure of the combined entity.Officials, however, said the merger was targeted to take effect from April 1, 2027, subject to regulatory and govt approvals.Govt holds a nearly 56% stake in PFC and 52.6% in REC, with the remainder held by public shareholders.PFC’s filing indicated that the Centre may infuse capital or issue securities, if required, to ensure the merged entity continues to retain its status as a govt company. The company also said its trading window for dealing in shares and listed debt securities would continue to remain closed until further orders.
Relief out of reach – The Hindu
Nagubai Chaudhary, 52, always believed that the land would take care of her, and it did. For as long as she can remember. But in 2025, parts of western and central Maharashtra received unseasonal rains. The sudden flood destroyed the Kharif crop.
When the land started drying up, Nagubai and her husband, Malinath, 60, had to quickly think about how to survive this season. “We paid to level the damaged topsoil, and sowed onions. They usually yield early. But the crop failed. This led to more debt,” said Nagubai, wiping her tears with the end of her floral pink sari.
Then, her husband died. He had to repay the loan of ₹14 lakh taken for farming and the hospitalization expenses of Malinath.
Nagubai and her husband owned 1.5 acres of land in Chincholi village in Dharashiv district of Maharashtra. He was forced to sell one acre of land to repay the loan. “I have lost my husband, land and a crop,” she says.
Maharashtra’s agriculture department estimates that 30 lakh farmers were affected by the floods last year, which destroyed 65 lakh hectares of crop area during August and September. Due to the rain, soybean fields were destroyed in Vidarbha, onions rotted in Nashik, pulses were destroyed in Marathwada and paddy fields in low-lying areas were flooded.
The Maharashtra government announced a relief package of ₹31,628 crore on 7 October. In the months that followed, many farmers say that despite government assessments, they have no clear idea of how much they are owed. Nagubai says she was promised only ₹2,500 two months before her husband died. Sitting in a small pink room, one corner of which has been designated as the kitchen, she explains: “Even this money is stuck because I still don’t have my husband’s death certificate.”
According to the State Relief and Rehabilitation Department, compensation for crop loss was ₹18,500 per hectare for rain-fed land (1 hectare is 2.5 acres), ₹27,000 per hectare for irrigated land, ₹32,500 per hectare for horticultural or perennial land (like gardens). Additionally, if the topsoil was washed away, the farmer was to get ₹47,000 per hectare.
To help restore the topsoil, the government promised to employ people through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) scheme, which guarantees 100 days of work to the unemployed.
Nagubai now survives on the money left over from the land deal, Rs 1,500 per month from the Sanjay Gandhi grant-in-aid scheme for people below the poverty line, and paid work under MNREGA. A portion of the topsoil on her land was washed away, she says, but she has spent ₹14,000 to restore it. No government help was received. Many farmers from the six worst-affected districts of Marathwada as well as Solapur in western Maharashtra say they have not received full compensation. Many farmers now pay from their own pockets or take second loans to improve their lands and prepare for Rabi crops.
In Dharashiv, Maharashtra government has identified 7.03 lakh farmers affected by the floods. Collector Kirti Kiran Pujar says that till now compensation has been given to 5.2 lakh people. “The rest will receive the funds after e-KYC (Know Your Customer) is done. Most of the farmers have received relief. Relief will be given under MNREGA and top soil-replacement funds as per the claims raised by the farmers with the gram panchayat.” The ministry, headquartered in Maharashtra’s administrative headquarters in Mumbai, did not respond to queries on data on affected areas.
During the announcement of the relief package, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said, “The package will be distributed to farmers covering 29 (out of 36) districts, 253 (out of 358) talukas and over 2,000 revenue areas before Diwali (in 2025). However, no one can compensate 100% of the financial and mental distress of farmers.”
According to the Collector’s office, 36 farmers committed suicide in Dharashiv from January to April, 2026, while from July to December, 2025, 78 farmers committed suicide.
lost fields
A group of farmers from Rajegaon village have gathered in a classroom of the government Zilla Parishad school. Narayan Deshmukh, 52, sits on a chair in front of a wall decorated with photographs of India’s leaders from different eras: Fatima Sheikh, Savitribai Phule, Indira Gandhi. “Time is running out. Gradually the size of my land will shrink. The rains caused huge damage. What will happen to our lost agricultural land? Restoration will cost more than government aid,” he says, then admits, “but every little amount counts.”
Narayan Deshmukh shows the part of his farm that was washed away after heavy rains. | Photo Credit: Emmanuel Yogini
Narayan’s farm is on the banks of the Terana River and receives at least 30% rainfall during the unseasonal rains. Guntas His 5 acres of land was washed away. “This has now become an annual occurrence, as rainfall increases. The government opens the gates of the Terana dam without informing and water seeps into the fields,” he says. Other farmers in the group also highlighted the same issue.
Dharashiv district consists of eight talukas including Umarga, where Rajegaon is located. It covers 7,569 square kilometers and is characterized by semi-arid terrain with hilly plateaus and river valleys. Last year the Manjara, Terna and Sina rivers were in spate, causing excess water to enter fields, affecting 159 villages in six talukas.
This was also experienced in Solapur, with soil erosion, sand accumulation and loss of fertility, especially in the river valleys. About 186 km from Rajegaon is Beed’s Majalgaon taluka, where Baliram Gholap, 30, who owns 5 acres of land, also says he has not received assistance for topsoil restoration.
“I got only ₹1,000. I don’t want money. Can the government get the restoration work done?” Depending on the quality of soil and labour, hiring an earth mover costs a minimum of ₹8,000, and the price of 1 brass ranges from ₹3,000 to 6,000, says Gholap.
Gholap, a cotton sower, suffered a loss of Rs 1.5 lakh due to unseasonal rains.
He says, “If the cotton had been harvested, I would have earned at least ₹3 lakh. I had borrowed ₹1 lakh and now I cannot repay the instalments.” He can no longer do farming and now works in a sugar factory at a salary of ₹10,000 per month. If he does not take leave, he gets ₹2,000 more. “I will take up farming next year, when conditions are favourable.”
Samadhan Mhaske, another farmer from Solapur’s Undargaon, near the Sena river, wipes his face and says, “Where is the ₹47,000 per hectare or the MNREGA help? At least 1.5 hectares of topsoil was washed away and huge mounds emerged.”
Along with his extended family members, he has 4 hectares of irrigated land and has so far received ₹35,000 through direct bank transfer. He also claims that 150 farmers like him have not received any compensation for topsoil restoration. There are 17 more villages near the Sina River, including Kewal, where the waters of the Sina River entered the fields and carried away a part of the fertile soil, leaving silt behind.
Low response to MNREGA
Under the MNREGA scheme, facial recognition is mandatory while logging in and out of the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) app. It has digital presence, geo-tag assets, Aadhaar-based payment system and real-time monitoring of operations. Many farmers are facing problems due to delays in Aadhaar verification and bank linking, leading to pending wage payments among elderly workers, women and people from remote villages struggling with biometric authentication and smartphone-based attendance.
Nagubai, who also has a job card under MNREGA, says, “The payment is irregular. I started working in January and got paid in March. That too ₹312 per day. If I had worked outside the government scheme, I could have earned ₹500.”
Government officials have acknowledged that offtake is low due to irregular payments.
Vidyasagar Gaikwad, 47, of Chincholi village in Dharashiv, works as an ad-hoc assistant to maintain the presence of MNREGA workers on the app. She and members of Maharashtra Gram Rozgar Sahayak Sanstha, a citizens’ group founded in 2016 to fight for the rights of MGNREGA workers, are at the protest.
He says that thumb impression and facial recognition are not reliable technologies. “At a time, there are 70 works going on in the village. I have to visit every place twice a day. And now with two shifts, almost four times a day, I cover a distance of at least 15 km. The government asks to spend two hours on this, but we spend almost half the day marking attendance,” he says.
hope of insurance
After unseasonal rains and flash floods, crops disappeared overnight and insurance survey teams emerged. According to the agriculture department, there were 49,601 claims amounting to more than ₹2,226 crore in Dharashiv alone. Many farmers say that they are waiting for the insurance money.
Avinash Deshmukh, farmer of Rajegaon. | Photo Credit: Emmanuel Yogini
In Rajegaon, Avinash Deshmukh, 42, a sunburnt farmer dressed in a clean white shirt and brown trousers, says pointing towards the river flowing near his farm: “It’s been nine months and I still haven’t been able to fix the potholes. I did everything as per the rules: got insured, paid the premium on time, reported the loss, yet I am still waiting for the insurance amount.”
To calculate insurance claims, the Government of Maharashtra uses a combination of crop cutting experiments (CCE) and satellite imagery. Under CCE, the State conducts sample harvest in selected farms of a village or insurance unit area. They harvest, weigh the produce and estimate the average yield per hectare, giving them the actual yield (AY) for that area. This assessment year is compared to the yield limit (YT), which is calculated in advance using historical production data. If AY is less than YT, farmers become eligible for compensation.
Agriculture department officials, who did not want to be named, claim that the insurance company says there is a discrepancy between satellite-based yield estimates, which show more crop damage, and CCE data, which show less damage.
As farmers wait for the next monsoon, they are hopeful that there will be no adverse weather conditions this time.
snehal.mutha@thehindu.co.in
Edited by Sunalini Mathew
