Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
India

Amarinder Singh Announces Total Waiver On Crop Loans For Small, Marginal Farmers

Darpan News Desk IANS, 19 Jun, 2017 12:12 PM
  • Amarinder Singh Announces Total Waiver On Crop Loans For Small, Marginal Farmers
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday announced total waiver of entire crop loans for small and marginal farmers in Punjab.
 
The loan waiver will for up to Rs 2 lakh for small and marginal farmers (up to 5 acres) and a flat Rs 2 lakh relief for all other marginal farmers, irrespective of their loan amount, thus paving the way for eventual total waiver of agricultural debts to implement another major poll promise of the ruling party.
 
Making the announcements during his speech in the Punjab assembly, the Chief Minister said the move would benefit a total of 10.25 lakh farmers of the state's 18.5 lakh farming families, including 8.75 lakh farmers having land up to 5 acres. 
 
"The initiative would provide double the relief announced by the states of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra," Amarinder pointed out.
 
The decision is based on the interim report of an expert group, headed by eminent economist Dr T. Haque, which was tasked with suggesting ways and means to help the state's distressed farming community.
 
 
Making it clear that his government stood by its commitment to waive off the crop loans of the farmers, Amarinder said his government had also additionally decided to take over the outstanding crop loan from institutional sources of all the families of farmers who committed suicide in the state.
 
It has also decided to raise the ex-gratia for families of farmers committing suicide to Rs 5 lakh from the existing Rs 3 lakh. 
 
For debt relief to farmers for loans raised from non-institutional resources, the government has decided to review the 'Punjab Settlement of Agriculture Indebtedness Act' to provide the desired relief to the farmers through mutually acceptable debt reconciliation and settlement, which shall be statutorily binding on both the parties, the lender and the borrower.
 
"The government has already constituted a Cabinet Sub Committee to review this Act," Amarinder added.
 
The Chief Minister proposed that the Speaker may constitute a 5-member committee of the Vidhan Sabha to visit families of the suicide victims, ascertain the reasons for suicides and suggest further steps to be taken to check the menace.
 
He also told the assembly that his government had already decided to repeal Section 67 A of the Punjab Cooperative Societies Act, 1961, which provides for auction (kurki) of farmers' land.
 
 
Also asserting that his government's is committed to provide free power to farmers, he however, appealed to all big and well-to-do farmers of the state to give up power subsidy voluntarily.
 
Amarinder announced his decision to immediately give up the subsidy at his own farms to set a personal example, and appealed to his colleagues to do the same.

MORE India ARTICLES

Mohali Resident Buys 'AK 47' For Rs 7.38 Lakh!

Mohali Resident Buys 'AK 47' For Rs 7.38 Lakh!
Punjabis’ tryst with the ubiquitous “AK 47” seems to be never ending. The name of the Russian-made assault rifle that had virtually become a household name during the days of terrorism in Punjab decades ago, still catches the people’s fancy.

Mohali Resident Buys 'AK 47' For Rs 7.38 Lakh!

Indian Woman's Murder Conviction Quashed, To Face Retrial

Indian Woman's Murder Conviction Quashed, To Face Retrial
An Indian national who was found guilty of the murder of her former lover’s fiancee in 2015 has had her conviction quashed by an Australian court and will face a retrial.

Indian Woman's Murder Conviction Quashed, To Face Retrial

WATCH: 21 Dead As Bus Plunges Into Bhagirathi River In Uttarakhand

WATCH: 21 Dead As Bus Plunges Into Bhagirathi River In Uttarakhand
At least 21 people were killed and eight others were injured when a bus ferrying pilgrims plunged into the Bhagirathi near Nalupani in Uttarakhand on Tuesday, the police said.

WATCH: 21 Dead As Bus Plunges Into Bhagirathi River In Uttarakhand

AAP Slams Three Years Of NDA Rule; Calls It 'Jumla Sarkar'

The AAP on Wednesday took a dig at the National Democratic Alliance government's three years in office at the Centre and said the ruling BJP had only spread fear and hatred since May 2014.

AAP Slams Three Years Of NDA Rule; Calls It 'Jumla Sarkar'

Crossing Religious Divide: Hindu, Muslim Wives Donate Kidneys To Each Other's Husband

Crossing Religious Divide: Hindu, Muslim Wives Donate Kidneys To Each Other's Husband
Ekram (29), a resident of Greater Noida, and Rahul Varisht (26), a Baghpat resident, were suffering from kidney ailments and needed kidney transplant. 

Crossing Religious Divide: Hindu, Muslim Wives Donate Kidneys To Each Other's Husband

India Is A 'Guru' And We Are Chelas (Followers), We Are Reliable Chelas: Dalai Lama

Calling himself the messenger of ancient Indian values and knowledge, the Dalai Lama said, "India is a guru and we are chelas (followers), we are reliable chelas, because we have preserved your ancient knowledge."

India Is A 'Guru' And We Are Chelas (Followers), We Are Reliable Chelas: Dalai Lama