Close X
Friday, November 1, 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

Air India Flight Overshoots Runway At Pune Airport; All Passengers Safe

As many as 152 passengers on board an Air India aircraft on Friday had a close shave after the plane overshot the runway after landing at the Pune airport.

Air India Flight Overshoots Runway At Pune Airport; All Passengers Safe

Sonia Gandhi Discharged From Hospital

Sonia Gandhi Discharged From Hospital
The 69-year-old Congress supremo had underwent a shoulder surgery in Sir Ganga Ram hospital last year.

Sonia Gandhi Discharged From Hospital

Haryana Shoots Down Punjab's Sutlej-Yamuna Link Dialogue Claim

Haryana Shoots Down Punjab's Sutlej-Yamuna Link Dialogue Claim
The quarrel continued — though in a lighter vain — even towards the end of the zonal conference in which Rajasthan also attempted to pull punches.

Haryana Shoots Down Punjab's Sutlej-Yamuna Link Dialogue Claim

Dead Snake Found In Mid-Day Meal Of Faridabad School

Dead Snake Found In Mid-Day Meal Of Faridabad School
On finding the snakelet, the children were immediately stopped from consuming the meal, but unfortunately some students had already eaten portions of it.

Dead Snake Found In Mid-Day Meal Of Faridabad School

Avoiding Lie Detector Test Proof Of Jagdish Tytler's Guilt In 1984 Riots: Akalis

The Shiromani Akali Dal or SAD on Wednesday claimed that the manner in which Congress leader Jagdish Tytler was "running away" from a lie detector test was "proof of his guilt" in the 1984 riots.

Avoiding Lie Detector Test Proof Of Jagdish Tytler's Guilt In 1984 Riots: Akalis

Punjab Govt Approves Online Transfer Of Government School Teachers From Next Academic Session

Punjab Govt Approves Online Transfer Of Government School Teachers From Next Academic Session
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today approved a policy for online transfer of government teachers from the next academic session, on the lines of a similar system existing in several other states, including in neighbouring Haryana.

Punjab Govt Approves Online Transfer Of Government School Teachers From Next Academic Session