In an initiative to lessen burden of debt-ridden farmers in the Vidarbha region, a local club in Wardha handed over cheques amounting to nearly Rs30 lakh to 114 farmers on behalf of Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan.

The cheques were handed over to farmers by local MP Datta Meghe on May 13, with the help of which the farmers would be able to clear their debts ranging between Rs25,000 and Rs1,50,000, a release issued by an NGO said.

As many as 114 farmers from 20 villages in Wardha district were picked up for the financial assistance, provided on behalf of Bachchan, who was not present on the occasion.

Union Bank of India, State Bank of India, Bank of India and Wardha District Co-operative Bank had provided crop loan to farmers.

Meanwhile, NGO Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti welcomed the gesture made by the megastar.