Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra Cabinet on June 2 approved a farm loan waiver scheme covering agricultural loans of up to ₹2 lakh, a decision expected to benefit around 56 lakh farmers.
The decision is expected to benefit around 5.6 million farmers. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered the administration to credit the loan waiver amount by June 20. Sources said the State Election Commission had advised the government against announcing the decision during the election period. The state cabinet also decided to give ₹50,000 to the farmers who paid their loan regularly.
There are 65 lakh bank accounts belonging to farmers who have availed crop loans amounting to Rs 36,585 crore. Of these, 56 lakh farmers are eligible under the loan waiver scheme. Ajit Nawale, secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha, welcomed the cabinet’s decision and said the focus should now be on implementation.
“June is the last month to repay crop loans; otherwise, farmers will be added to the defaulter list and will not be eligible for a new loan. Therefore, the farm loan waiver decision has to be executed as early as possible if the state government is keen to help farmers raise loans for the Kharif season,” Nawale said.
