The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Demand for cash incentive to ryots

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Thursday, Nov 20, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Demand for cash incentive to ryots

Staff Reporter

Banks refuse to pay in cash against ryots’ vouchers
Minister prevails upon banks who finally relent

KARIMNAGAR: Minister for Roads & Buildings T. Jeevan Reddy along with farmers staged dharna in front of State Bank of Hyderabad and Union Bank of India on Wednesday demanding that the bankers disburse Rs. 5,000 incentive announced by the State government to the farmers, who had repaid their loans promptly.

These ryots were not covered under the loan waiver scheme.

The Minister had formally launched the ‘Rythu Protsahaka Utsavalu’ in Jagtial town along with Ch. Vijaya Mohan, Collector in-charge of the district and other bank officials. However, when the farmers went to the banks to encash their vouchers given as part of the incentive, the bankers refused to pay the amount saying, they had not received any orders from the government. When this was brought to the notice of the Minister, he rushed to the banks and after an argument with the officials there, staged a dharna as a mark of protest.

The bank officials later tendered apology to the Minister and assured of cash disbursal.

“I am really shocked. We have waived the loans to the farmers and also announced incentive of Rs 5,000 to each farmer, who cleared the loans, and also released Rs. 1,600 crore to the banks for this purpose”, he said and added that the voucher was deemed to be a cheque and the bank should encash it.”

Lead bank flayed

He also found fault with the lead district bank, the SBH for not disbursing cash to farmers. The Minister personally visited each and every bank and ensured disbursement of cash to the farmers, a process that continued till late in the evening.

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