Government puts rider on farm loan waiver

The

much publicised Rs 3449.78-crore Farm Loan Waiver scheme announced by Chief

Minister Jagadish Shettar, which was endorsed by the state Cabinet on Thursday,

has come with a rider for over 8,93,299 beneficiaries who availed themselves of

loans more than Rs 25,000 from co-operative institutions.Co-operative

Minister B J Puttaswamy told reporters on Friday that farmers who availed

themselves of crop loan of more than Rs 25,000 between August last year and July

31 this year would be eligible for the loan waiver scheme provided they clear all

the loans with applicable interest rate before June 30, next year.“As

many as 8,93,299 farmers in the category of beyond Rs 25,000 loan amount had

availed overRs 2,233. 41 crore,” he said.The

minister however, strongly defended the conditions put by the state government.

Another 671,422 farmers fall in the category of the loan amount availed less than

Rs 25,000, accounting for Rs 1,202.71 crore, he said.As many

as 16 lakh farmers would be eligible to avail the scheme.