After Madhya Pradesh government initiated farm loan waiver scheme for the state as per promises made during election campaigning, reports have emerged casting suspicion on the rollout of the scheme. Many farmers across the state, who had taken the loan from banks before 31 st March 2018 and that of more than Rs 1 lakh, have reportedly got loan waiver benefit of mere Rs 25-30.

According to a report by Amar Ujala, farmers in the state were waiting to see the list of nominees for the Jai Kisan Rid Mukhti Yojana, and to check if their names were included. The scheme was launched by Kamal Nath government, in accordance with its poll promise, to waive off loans of 55 lakh small and marginal farmers across the state.

When the list of beneficiaries was made available at nearest town halls, farmers in many villages were enraged on finding that the list did have their names, but the amount that was waived of ranged from Rs 25 to few hundred rupees, while their loan amounts stood at more than Rs 1 lakh. A farmer in Jaitpur, according to report, said that out of 2 and a half lakh loan, only Rs 25 have been waived off. Similarly, a farmer in Sikandarpur village in Kurwai Tehsil of Vidisha claimed that out of his Rs 30,000 loan amount, a minuscule amount of Rs 300 has been waived off.

On 17th January, reports had emerged that amongst various beneficiaries listed by the government eligible for farmer loan waiver did not even exist in reality. In one particular case, the farmer had already paid his loan amount, yet his name appeared in the list of beneficiaries for the government’s loan waiver. His loan of Rs 31000 was waived off by the government. However, the farmer insists that he has already paid up his loan amount and has a bank receipt to support his claim.

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The Madhya Pradesh government is clearly, finding it hard to implement his party’s poll promises made by Congress President Rahul Gandhi during his election campaigning. The lofty promises of farm loan waiver had already taken 3 lives in Madhya Pradesh. It now remains to be seen, whether the Rs 25-30 loan waivers are a mistake and whether these will be rectified or not.