Farmer thought loan waiver announced by Congress would bring him some relief | REUTERS image for representation

A farmer in Madhya Pradesh got a loan waiver of Rs 13 instead of Rs 24,000.

The farmer's name is Shivpal Kataria. He hails from Nipania Baijnath village in Agar Malwa district, 120 km north of Indore.

According to an IANS report, Kataria was shocked to see Rs 13 marked against his name on the list of beneficiaries for the farm loan waiver issued by the authorities on Wednesday (January 23).

He was expecting a loan waiver of Rs 24,000.

"The state government had promised to waive loans up to Rs 2 lakh. Forms were filled and I was expecting a complete waiver of my loan amount of Rs 23,815. But, the list that has come to the panchayat says only Rs 13 have been waived," IANS quoted Kataria as saying.

The IANS report mentioned Kataria was excited when the Congress, which made the loan waiver promise before the assembly polls, came to power. He thought the loan waiver announced by the Congress would bring him some relief.

"I am an honest farmer. I have been regularly paying my dues. On questioning, the staff said that I did not have loan on me on the date of loan waiver. There are major irregularities in the loan waiver scheme. I have reported the matter to the authorities," IANS quoted Kataria as saying.

'LOAN DISBURSAL AND IRREGULARITIES'

The Congress, on the other hand, said they are encountering flaws and irregularities at the stage of loan disbursal.

IANS quoted cabinet minister Omkar Singh Markam as saying, "Irregularities which happened at the stage of loan disbursal are now surfacing. We are taking required action."

CONGRESS, LOAN WAIVER AND MADHYA PRADESH

Keeping the pre-election promise, Congress leader and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath had announced farm loan waiver on the day of his taking charge. The process of application began on January 15.

The last date for applying for loan waiver is February 5 and from February 22 the money will start going directly to the farmers' bank accounts, the IANS report said.

The scheme is aimed to benefit 55 lakh farmers and would entail an expenditure of Rs 50,000 crore.