Bhopal: The estimated number of farmers, whose farm loan would be waived, may shrink. Chief Minister Kamal Nath, during a programme on filing of farm loan waiver application, had said that loan of Rs 50,000 crore of 55 lakh farmers would be waived.
With the beginning of filing of application forms from farmers, the agriculture department hopes that farm loan of around 42 lakh farmers would be waived off which would cost Rs 40,000 crore. While filing of farm loan waiver application, it came to the fore that one farmer had taken loan from several banks. Farmers taking loans from several banks have many bank accounts which would reduce the number of farmers eligible for farm loan waiver.
The government prior to code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections coming into effect, made provision of spending Rs 5000 crore for farm loan waiver in the supplementary budget. According to sources, the loan amount of remaining farmers would be waived after Lok Sabha elections.
The money for non-performing asset (NPA) with nationalized banks, would be put in account of farmers in the end. The government has not even said anything on relaxation on loan amount taken from banks. There are chances that loans of the farmers, who took loans from cooperative banks, will be waived first. The delay in the release of the farmers taking loans from nationalized banks is because of its publication in English. These lists, prior to making them public, are translated into Hindi.
