Uddhav demands a study group to supervise loan waiver process

ON HIS AGENDA He also wanted an extension of the eligibility date for the write-off

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded the formation of a study group to ensure that the government’s decision of a loan waiver reaches needy farmers and undue advantage is not taken.

He also demanded the extension of the eligibility date for loan waiver, wanted the inclusion of farmers who have taken loans in June 2017 and not only till the previous year.

Meanwhile, a group of farmers from Puntamba, the village which was epicentre of the farmers’ dissent, are dissatisfied with the package and met Sharad Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party president, in Mumbai on Monday.

Thackeray was on visit to Puntamba to meet farmers who made history by agitating in the history of India and succeeded to get historical loan waiver package. Thackeray thanked farmers and arrived at Aurangabad. Within 24 hours of Thackeray’s visit to Puntanba, a group of eight farmers met Pawar and told him they are not satisfied with the package.

Abhay Chavan, a leader of farmers, said, “We regularly repay our crop loans. The government announced an aid of Rs 25,000 as loan waiver to those who are repaying their dues regularly. However, those who have outstanding loans up to Rs 1.50 lakh are going to benefit more. We think this is unfair and injustice to us, as we repay the crop loan diligently,” he said.

Another farmer, Dattatray Dhanwate, said, “We have come to meet Sharad Pawar because he understands our issues thoroughly. Our demand is that we should get additional aid up to Rs 50,000 because many farmers would not benefit from the existing loan waiver scheme.”

“If a farmer gets Rs 25,000 return under the scheme, it is of little help to us,” he said.

The farmers who grow cereals and grains seem to be benefiting as compared to other farmers which has also irked few of the farmers.

“Most of us grow grapes, sugarcane and soyabean. Our crop loan limit is also quite high as compared to those farmers producing food grains. Hence, when our loans turn bad, as its amount is often higher than that of farmers growing cereals and pulses. We are not going to benefit at all from this scheme,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, Thackeray said he will be monitoring the whole process closely. “It is important to note which farmer living from which village receives the benefits of the loan waiver scheme. To ensure needy farmers receive their due benefits, the governments should form a study group,” Thackeray told reporters in Aurangabad.

He added, “The government announced that loans of 40 lakh farmers will be waived off. The government needs to give specific information. The Sena is a part of the government and has backed the farmers agitation hence we will be monitoring this closely.”