Fadnavis govt starts disbursing farm loans

Mumbai: The implementation process of the farmer’s loan waiver scheme in Maharashtra finally started after a wait of four long months. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis handed over loan waiver cheques to around 10 farmers in Mumbai on Wednesday. Around 56 lakh farmers have applied for the loan waiver and 10 lakh farmers will receive the benefits of the scheme in the first stage. Two to five lakh accounts will be cleared per day in this scheme, claims the government. 

Shivram Bhoye, a farmer from Shahapur, Thane district, received a cheque of Rs 1,15,000 from the CM. He was very emotional after receiving the benefits directly from the state government. “I am thankful. This will help me a lot in the next season of farming,” he said. 

Another farmer from Akola Bazar village in Yavatmal district, Habib Khan Pathan, received a cheque of Rs 75,951. He comes from the highly sensitive belt of farmer’s suicides. “These loan waivers will definitely help farmers in my district. Thousands of farmers will get relief and that too on the eve of Diwali,” said Mr Pathan. 

File image of farmer protest in the state for the waiver.

Of the farmers who will get the benefits of the scheme in the first stage, 4.5 lakh are defaulters and almost Rs 3,200 crore will be given as loan waiver in this stage. The government has opened the account of a beneficiary farmer and only that person will get the benefits of the scheme. The government has claimed that a  full proof system has been created for the scheme. 

While addressing the ceremony, the chief minister clarified his government’s stand on improving agricultural income and output. “Loan waiver is not the final solution. It was our commitment to the farmers. While fulfilling it, we are planning to make farmers economically so sound that in future they would not need any such waiver,” said Mr Fadnavis.