|
The Finance Minister has modified the farm loan waiver scheme according to which small farmers will include those with a holding of up to one hectare (2.5 acres), while marginal farmers will be those who have one-two hectares.
Farmers with over two hectares will get a one-time settlement rebate of 25%, subject to their paying the balance in three instalments by June 30, 2009. However, no interest will be charged on the outstanding amount.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram said in the 237 identified dry land districts, large farmers would get a benefit of Rs 20,000 or 25% of the outstanding amount. The districts were identified on the basis of government schemes such as the drought-prone area programme, the desert development programme and the Prime Minister's Special Relief Programme.
Reacting strongly, Bharatiya Krishak Samaj president Krishan Bir Chaudhry said the 2001 Census data shows that 742.6 million people or 72.2% of the country's population live in rural areas and are directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture. The average annual exponential growth rate of the population is estimated at 1.95%. Out of the total population of 742.6 million people, the Finance Minister has identified 40 million people as beneficiaries under the Rs 71,680 crore loan waiver package.
He added that if the government is sincere in solving the farmers' problems, it should take care to work out a package for benefit of majority of farmers. (Source: The Hindu, PR)
May 27, 2008
|
