State govt starts gathering details of outstanding farm loans
Chandigarh: Agitating farmers in Haryana have refused to withdraw their agitation despite the acceptance of several demands of farmers in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Haryana farmers, who are sitting on dharna in many parts of the state, have decided to block national highways and state highways for three hours on June 16. On the other hand, keeping in view the increasing protests by farmers, the Haryana government has initiated the process of collecting details about the outstanding farm loans particularly given by its cooperative banks and societies to the farmers.
A government official told The Indian Express on Monday that there is a defaulting loan of Rs 6,575 crore, which the farmers could not deposit with the cooperative banks and societies on time. “Keeping in view the past practice of waiving such farm loans, the government may consider to waive off this much amount,” said the officer, adding that no decision has been taken on the issue yet. “As of now, only details are being collected,” added the officer.
However, the amount of total farm loan disbursed by both cooperative and commercial banks is much higher. As on March 31, 2015, the total outstanding crop loan in Haryana was pegged at Rs 28,558 crore with more than 22 lakh Kisan Credit Cards (KCC).
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Haryana unit president Gurnam Singh Chaduni said, “From the media reports, we have heard about farm loans of Rs 56,000 crore pending against the Haryana farmers.”
Chaduni said the issue of farm loans is related to the farmers of all states, not only Maharashtra. “In the absence of good prices of crops, farmers’ lives have become miserable. The problems of farmers can be addressed only by two ways. First, waive off their existing farm loans and second, offer them profitable rates of their crops to increase their income,” added Chaduni, who have led many agitations of farmers in the state.
“To help farmers ensure their survival, the government should implement recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission to ensure 50 per cent profit in the peasants’ input cost to their crops,” said Chaduni.
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