Nashik: Farmers in Nashik district are currently facing a severe financial crisis, and to provide them relief, Member of Parliament Bhaskarrao Bhagare has demanded the announcement of a comprehensive loan waiver. He stated that unseasonal rains, hailstorms, poor prices for agricultural produce, and rising production costs have pushed farmers into an extremely distressing situation.
Bhagare pointed out that the crop loan waiver scheme announced by the state government for loans up to ₹2 lakh is proving inadequate, with many eligible farmers being left out. In particular, farmers who have taken medium-term loans instead of crop loans are unable to benefit from the scheme, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.
Against this backdrop, Bhagare has written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil, placing several important demands before the government.
These demands include announcing a complete loan waiver through the District Central Cooperative Bank as well as other cooperative banks, immediately halting forced loan recovery and granting a minimum six-month moratorium, extending the deadlines for loan restructuring and interest concession schemes, and including medium-term loan holders under the loan waiver scheme.
In addition, he has demanded that the “loan disbursement date” condition applicable to the waiver be removed, or that the year-based limit on it be withdrawn. He has also called for simple, transparent, and comprehensive eligibility criteria for the loan waiver scheme.
Bhagare further emphasised the need for immediate financial assistance and adequate compensation for farmers who have suffered losses. He expressed hope that the government would take serious and sensitive note of the grave situation and take an immediate, positive, and just decision.
