Telangana govt to resume farmer loan waiver programme from Aug 3

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has decided to resume the farmer loan waiver programme from Thursday.

KCR said the economic slowdown caused by the centre’s decision of demonetization, the Corona pandemic, the vindictive attitude adopted by the centre towards Telangana by not releasing the FRBM funds etc were the main reasons for the delay in the implementation of the farmer loan waiver scheme.

KCR held a high-level review meeting at Pragati Bhavan on the steps to be taken to restart the farmer loan waiver scheme.

“As promised, the government is implementing the farm loan waiver scheme. Due to COVID-19, the Centre’s unilateral decision to cut FRBM funds, and indifference toward Telangana in the release of funds, the farm loan waiver scheme was delayed," he said.

"The state government is sincerely implementing 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. The government has initiated a big programme to set up food processing units for agricultural development. We will not rest until the farmers are empowered.”

KCR said 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 to resume this programme from August 3.

KCR gave clear instructions to complete the farmer loan waiver programme by the second week of September on the lines of Rythu Bandhu.

Reacting to the government’s decision, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President Revanth Reddy said that the farmer loan waiver is the Congress party's struggle.

"Today, KCR's announcement on the loan waiver is the result of the Congress party's movements and struggles. A group of Congress party representatives met the state chief secretary and demanded a loan waiver. We had warned that we would stage dharnas in front of banks if the loan waiver is not implemented," said Revanth Reddy.

"Because of KCR's inability, loan waiver was delayed for four years. Congress party will stand by the farmers and fight until the farmers get full loan waiver," he added.