Mumbai: Refuting allegations pertaining to discrepancies in loan waiver given to farmers, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday claimed that so far 46,35,648 farmers have received the benefit. He even warned a few banks from charging interest from the farmers for six to eight months i.e. between the announcement of the loan waiver and actual disbursement of the funds.
“We had received 67 lakh applications from the farmers for the loan waiver. Of which 13 lakh have gone back to the scrutiny committee for verification. About one lakh have been kept on hold as they have overdue issue. Till today 46,35,648 farmers have received the benefit of the scheme,” the CM said in a press conference held on the eve of the budget session of the legislature beginning from Monday.
Replying to the allegation by opposition parties that many farmers could not apply for the loan waiver, the CM said that the government would give them another chance.
To a query about the banks asking for interest for six to eight months, the CM said that strict action would be taken against the banks. “State Level Bank Committee (SLBC) has decided not to take interest from the farmers. However, there are a few district banks which are charging interest and we will send notices to them,” the CM said.
