Rama Krishna Sangem
In a major decision that will have far reaching political consequences, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao decided to resume the farmer loan waiver programme from Thursday, August 3. This is a long pending demand of farmers of Telangana. Though the ruling BRS promised to waive loans since 2018, the government couldn’t do it due to financial constraints.
CM KCR reiterated that the Telangana farmers’ welfare and agriculture development is the main objective of the state government. Despite facing many challenges, the government is committed to the welfare of the farmers, the chief minister said. This loan waiver will cause a burden on the state exchequer to a tune of around Rs 19,000 crore
CM KCR said that due to economic slowdown caused by the centre’s decision of the demonetization, impact of Corona pandemic on the state economy, vindictive attitude adopted by the centre towards Telangana state by not releasing the FRBM funds etc, which contributed to the state fiscal deficit, are the main reasons for the delay in the implementation of farm loan waiver scheme.
Following the state’s healthy economic conditions, CM KCR held a high-level review meeting at Pragati Bhavan on the steps to be taken to restart the farmer loan waiver scheme. The decision comes a day before week long monsoon session of the assembly, from August 3, Thursday.
State Finance Minister Sri T Harish Rao, Chief Advisor to CM Somesh Kumar, IAS (Retd), Special Chief Secretary to Finance Ramakrishna Rao, IAS, Special CS Arvind Kumar, IAS and Agriculture Secretary Raghunandan Rao, IAS participated in this review meeting.
CM KCR said that “ As promised by him, the government is implementing the farm loan waiver scheme. Due to unforeseen troubles like Corona, Centre’s unilateral decision to cut FRBM funds, and indifference toward Telangana in the release of funds delayed the process to the completion of the farm loan waiver scheme.
State government is sincerely implementing the schemes like Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, free electricity and irrigation to the farmers. Notwithstanding the problems faced by the state, the government will not neglect the welfare of the farmers. Further, the government initiated a big programme of setting up food processing units for agricultural development. Thus, there is no need to rest until the farmers are empowered and they are financially uplifted.”
CM KCR said that, after the already waived loans, it required another Rs 19,000 crore for the waiver of pending farm loans. The CM ordered Finance Minister Harish Rao and Secretary Ramakrishna Rao, IAS to resume this programme from y , August 3. CM KCR gave clear instructions to complete the farmer loan waiver programme by September second week on the lines of Rythu bandhu benefit deposited in the farmers bank accounts directly in phased manner.
