Stringent conditions laid down by the government will make several farmers ineligible for farm loan waiver says Congress.
Even though the Fadnavis government had announced farm loan waiver but it has imposed several conditions that needs to be fulfilled to avail the scheme. The government has set June 30, 2016 as the cut-off date for eligibility to avail loan waiver. Thus farmers who had applied loan after this date will become ineligible for waiver. Several other conditions have been imposed by the government which will exclude farmers who have any other alternative sources of income, owning four-wheelers, those who have relatives working for the government, tax-paying farmers. Those farmers who are related those serving as legislators, formers legislators, civic body and government employees will also be denied waiver.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the government will use digital platform to ensure that only the needy farmers loans are written off. The stringent conditions laid down by the government have already upset farmers and opposition parties. Congress attacked the government and said that it is not serious about resolving the hardships of farmers. The party also added that by imposing conditions the government is only trying to pass the buck.
Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said that Punjab has already announced loan waiver for farmers and the state government is still holding discussion about this issue. He said, “Instead of merely debating the government must act immediately and write off farm loans. States like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have acted fast but the state government is only trying to buy time. Is the government really serious about the hardships faced by farmers?”
“The government has laid down several conditions like setting up a cut-off date and waiving only loans up to one lakh rupees. The 30th June 2016 cut-off date will exclude many farmers from receiving benefits of loan waiver. The government must revise the cut-off date to 31st March 2017. If the government was really worried about farmers’ hardships then it would have written off loans without imposing conditions,” he added.
“Steps must be taken by the government to address rising farmer suicides in the state. We have been fighting for the farmers’ cause since last two years but the government is not bothered about addressing their grievances. MPCC president Ashok Chavan has demanded a special session of the legislature to discuss about the farm loan waiver issue. He also alleged that the government is trying to create a split within farmers.
