Chief Minister of Telangana K. Chandrasekhar Rao has asked farmers not have any doubts and fears about the farm loan waiver scheme as his government is committed to implement it, as promised in the election manifesto.
“No work related to the issue has been done yet in the absence of details and the bankers are yet to come up with details of farmers’ outstanding dues. It will take at least 10 to 15 days to finalise the details, get clearance from the finance department and get the RBI approval before it actually come into force”, Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao said while addressing mediapersons in Delhi before returning to Hyderabad on Sunday.
Some people were projecting it as if the TRS Government had deceived the farmers and the media was blowing it out of proportion even before a decision was taken, the Chief Minister said and suggested the media to play a constructive role instead of running a false propaganda. “We know how our enemies are awaiting opportunity for mudslinging. We kept quiet, in spite of some damage being done, so that people become aware of their designs”, Mr. Rao said.
He, however, admitted that in spite of suggesting his Cabinet colleagues to speak anything after weighing pros and cons, one of them had spoken something knowingly or unknowingly and that had led to some confusion.
“We are expecting that waiver of farm loans up to Rs. 1 lakh will require Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 12,000 crore and we won’t go back on it, even if it goes up by another Rs.10,000 crore,” the Chief Minster said adding that it was only eight days since their government had taken over and there were no officers in many departments including the CMO and there was hardly anybody to give details due to the delay in allotment of officers.
Stating that about 20 to 23 lakh farmers were likely to get benefited from the loan waiver, Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao explained that the State Government would apprise the RBI of loan waiver details and in turn the apex banker would examine the economic buoyancy of the State before giving its approval. Then alone it would take a practical shape, he noted.
