Government has paid off only 12.5 per cent of moneylenders: Sachin Sawant

Congress criticised chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the state BJP government for fooling farmers with the private moneylenders scheme. According to the scheme, the government would attempt to aid farmers who had taken loans from private moneylenders.

The state government had announced Rs 377 crore for the scheme but according to Congress, the state has reduced number of beneficiaries and the amount reserved for the scheme.

Speaking with media persons on Thursday, Sachin Sawant, state congress spokesperson, said, “Out of the Rs 377 crore announced by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to be used to repay loans of farmers taken from private moneylenders, the final estimates by state government stated that only Rs 46.66 crore was required for the purpose.”

Furnishing a response garnered from an RTI query, Mr Sawant said, “The CM had on the floor of the House said that around 50 per cent farmers commit suicide as they cannot repay loans taken from private moneylenders. The state administration revised its estimates on the amount of money required to pay off the loans. And the figures they came up with only show their dismal attitude towards the plight of farmers.”

He said that initially, the state government had estimated that Rs 604.88 crore would be required to pay off loans. “The initial estimate was that 4,899 money lenders would be required to pay to free 5,84,556 people from debt. The administration then developed cold feet and after cutting down the numbers came to the conclusion that only 46.66 crore would be required to repay the debts,” he said.

He further said that out of Rs 46.66 crore, the government has till now, disbursed only Rs 19.55 crore to private moneylenders. The government has only decided to pay 12.5 per cent of Rs 377 crore that the CM had promised, said Mr Sawant.

“This shows that they are no more than 12 per cent trustworthy. The facts only show that the government may make big announcements but when it comes to working on ground, it develops cold feet,” he said.