Government to give loan waiver to 2001-8 defaulters: CM Fadnavis

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has declared that the state government will give the benefits of the farm loan waiver scheme to such farmers who did not benefit from the earlier loan waiver scheme and were defaulters during the period from 2001 to 2008. However, he refused to extend the scheme’s benefits to defaulters beyond June 30 2016, the cut-off date for eligibility. Mr Fadnavis slammed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar’s demand on increasing the minimum support price. He said, “Dr Swaminathan had submitted the report in 2005, but then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and agriculture minister Pawar did not take any decision for nine years, while we accepted it.” 

After meeting with representatives of the Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha and farmer leaders, Mr Fadnavis said, “We have accepted all demands of the farmers and tribals whose issues are genuine. Some farmers had not benefited from the 

2008 loan waiver, and our government had given benefits to those who availed of loans from 2009 to June 30 2016. We don’t have exact figure of farmers who have not benefited from both the waivers, but we will give benefits to those farmers also who are defaulters during 2001-08. “But we will not change the deadline of June 30 2016, because many farmers have paid their dues and it will be injustice to them if will extend it. Still, the government’s committee will decide how we can help them. The kisan morcha has asked that the definition of family be changed and husband and wife be considered as separate entities, which is not possible, he said. 

He added, “The main issue of the farmers was about forest lands and we have accepted their contention. Those tribals who have proof of possessing lands before 2005 will get a transfer as per the law. We have decided to appoint special teams to decide these issues within six months.