Mumbai: With no confirmed data on the State government’s farm loan waiver, the claims of giving out ₹34,000 crore for over 40 lakh farmers are turning out to be an exaggeration as actual numbers on beneficiaries and financial package could go down.
Under the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shetkari Sanman Yojana, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had claimed to waive off loans of over 40 lakh farmers, the number which comes from the State Level Banking Committee, an umbrella body of all financial institutions in the State. On Tuesday, Mr. Fadnavis, however, tweeted a photo announcing that the total number of actual beneficiaries would be 36,10,216.
Number to decrease
According to the Opposition, the number is set to decrease considerably. In its decision last year, the government had announced to restructure the loan of 10,13,787 farmers since 2014-15 and 2015-16. “These farmers will not fall in the league of loan defaulters, and hence will be awarded only the benefits such as ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 for regular premium payment and not the loan waiver,” said Sachin Sawant, spokesperson, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.
The Opposition alleged that only 4,42,902 farmers, who are the defaulters since 2012-13 and 2013-14, with loans up to ₹2,438.98 crore will get the loan waiver benefit. “The total loan waiver package won’t go beyond ₹5,000 crore. The government must apologise to the people for lying and presenting exaggerated numbers,” he said.
A senior official from the cooperation department confirmed that the total account holders of about 89,75,198 is a cumulative figure since 2009-10 and not April 2012. “The government will go by the rule. We had decided to extend the loan waiver between April 2012 and June 30, 2016. Only those who fall in this category will be benefited,” he said. This could further cut the number of beneficiaries.
Kharif season
Questions have also been raised over the disbursement of ₹10,000 for the ongoing kharif season, an announcement made by the State on June 11. The Opposition has alleged that only four districts have started disbursing the said amount even after over 20 days of the announcement. It has claimed that only 1,082 farmers have been benefited under this scheme.
