"We are waiving loans of up to Rs 1.5 lakhs completely. And those farmers who have paid back their loans regul... Read More

NEW DELHI: Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government on Saturday announced a major farm loan waiver package of Rs 34,000 crore.

In a big relief to the farmers in the state, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a scheme that will see debt of up to Rs 1.5 lakh per farmer being written off.

"We are waiving loans of up to Rs 1.5 lakhs completely. And those farmers who have paid back their loans regularly, will give 25 per cent loan return benefit to them," Fadnavis said while addressing a press conference today.

He also said that all state ministers and MLAs will give one month salary to support farmers loan waiver.

"We are aware that the burden will fall on us. We will cut our expenses. All the ministers and MLAs will give their one month salary to support the farm loan waiver ," he added.

Named after Maratha warrior king Shivaji Maharaj, the programme will benefit 89 lakh farmers and make 40 lakh agriculturists debt-free, Fadnavis said.

At least thirty one lakh farmers with overdue loans and another 35 lakh who have not defaulted on their loans but have pending loans in the current fiscal, will be eligible for a waiver of up to Rs 1.5 lakh.

The package will also have a special scheme for farmers who have been regularly paying their dues.

"The package was approved by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis during our meeting on Saturday morning. We have apprised Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and key opposition leaders about it. The final decision will be taken in the state cabinet on Tuesday,” Patil said after meeting Thackeray at his residence on Saturday.

On Thursday, Fadnavis and Patil had met NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Delhi.

Meanwhile, besides farmers’ outfits, even Congress has opposed the proposed upper cap of Rs 1 lakh as loan waiver per farmer.

The BJP-led government in Maharashtra agreed to waive farmers’ loans after protests by farmers’ outfits in various parts of the state.

(With agencies input)



In Video: Maharashtra announces loan waiver for its farmers