FARMERS DISAGREE WITH GOVERNMENT

MUMBAI: Farmers’ leaders have disagreed with the Group of Ministers during their meeting on Monday to finalise the eligibility criteria for the beneficiaries of loan waiver scheme and burnt copies of the Government Resolutions demanding better criteria.

Mumbai: Farmers’ leaders have disagreed with the Group of Ministers during their meeting on Monday to finalise the eligibility criteria for the beneficiaries of loan waiver scheme.The steering committee of farmers’ agitation demanded that the government come up with better criteria till the next meeting and burnt copies of the Government Resolution.

“We expected that the government would stick to their word on disbursing an interim advance of Rs 10,000 to needy farmers to facilitate Kharif sowing. But, the terms and conditions they have mentioned in the resolution are too harsh. It appears as if the government doesn’t want to disburse the advance at all,” said Raju Shetti, the leader of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana after the meeting. He termed the government’s stand as “breach of trust of the farmers”.

Farmers’ leaders also opposed the government’s proposal to put a cap of Rs 1,00,000 on the loan waiver. “How can they do so when the basic farm loan for vineyards is Rs 1,50,000,” Shetti said, adding the farmers have decided to oppose the government’s stand. Political Bureau