Bhopal: Despite Election Commission approval, the process to waive off farm loan of 4.83 lakh farmers has not yet begun. The Commission has given a green signal to the government to initiate loan waiver at places where voting has ended. Earlier, the government had sought permission from the EC to waive off the loan of the farmers who were identified.
There are 4.83 lakh farmers in the list whose loan is to be waived, however they failed to get the benefit due to some reasons. The government though has got EC’s approval, but it has now decided to initiate the farm loan waiver after declaration of Lok Sabha poll results.
The issue of farm loan waiver is the bone of contention between the government and the opposition. Chief minister Kamal Nath in his public meetings is insisting that farm loans have been waived while former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is challenging their claim. The government had also earlier announced that the farmers whose loan was not waived off due to imposition of code of conduct, would be initiated later. EC though has given permission for farm loan waiver but government has put on hold till the outcome of the LS elections.
The budget decided by the government for farm loan waiver has been spent. Further process could be initiated after making provision in the budget for waiver. According to information, budget session may begin from June end during which provision for loan waiver would be put up by the government.
