Will extend loan waiver to those left out in 2008: CM

Farmers in Maharashtra who were left out of the 2008 loan waiver announced by the then government would be brought under the ambit of the last year’s scheme, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

“Farmers who failed to repay loans during 2001-09 and could not avail the benefit of the 2008 loan waiver scheme will be included in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shetkari Sanman Yojana-CSMSSY (announced in June last by the BJP-led state government),” the CM said.

He was making a statement in the Lower House on the outcome of the talks held between the state government and the leaders of farmers on Monday.

Protesting the government's “apathy” towards the farmers’ distress, thousands of farmers and tribals walked from Nashik to Mumbai, a distance of around 180 kms, in the last six days under the banner of Left-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS). The protest was withdrawn on Monday after the state government agreed to almost all demands of the farmers, including transfer of forest land rights.

Referring to the farmers’ demand for transfer of forest land rights, the CM said the government has sought time of six months to do the needful. He said the land required for the upcoming bullet train project and the Samruddhi Mahamarg (connecting Mumbai with Nagpur) would not be acquired without the consent of farmers.

“Land acquisition for these projects is being done as per law with consent of farmers,” he said.