Uddhav not invited for loan waiver event

GREEN REVOLUTION Nearly 10L farmers to benefit in first phase of scheme that will cater to over 87L agriculturists

The friction between Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janta Party has now reached new levels. After cornering the Devendra Fadnavis government to implement the loan waiver scheme for farmers, the chief minister has retaliated by not inviting Sena president Uddhav Thackeray for the implementation of the loan waiver scheme. The state government distribute the first few cheques to the beneficiaries at a function on Wednesday.

Fadnavis said that in the first phase, the loan waiver amount would be deposited in the bank accounts of nearly 10 lakh farmers.

Speaking on the occasion of Diwali, Fadnavis said that during the past one and half months, more than one crore farmers registered online for the benefit of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shetkari Sanman Yojana 2017, which is known as the loan waiver scheme. Out of these, 70 to 77 lakh farmers submitted the documents with the form and we have settled down around 60 lakh forms,” said the chief minister.

He further added that out of the total valid applicants, 37 lakh farmers are there whose loan amounts are below Rs 1.5 lakh.

“The amount would be transferred in the bank accounts of farmers. If the banks were given this responsibility to distribute, then they would have deducted the interest which would have led to anger among the farmers. This would not have benefited the farmers,” said Fadnavis.

Several banks have huge non-performing assets (NPA) due to outstanding loans of farmers. The banks may clear their NPAs by deducting from this loan waiver amount.

“I have requested banks not to charge interests on the outstanding NPAs and the banks too have assured me of their cooperation,” Fadnavis added.

Speaking on the omission of Thackeray from the official function, the chief minister said, “Diwakar Raote, minister for road transport would be present at the event.” Raote was a member of the committee formed for the loan waiver scheme.

Thackeray had said that he would keep a watch on the beneficiaries of this scheme to verify authentic farmers are not omitted.