In its first meeting, Jagan Reddy cabinet decides to waive interest on all crop loans

india

Updated: Jun 11, 2019 01:39 IST

In his first cabinet meeting after assuming office, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday announced waiver of interest on all crop loans to be availed by farmers in the next five years.

“There will be no interest on any crop loans to be taken by farmers hereafter. The government itself will pay interest to the banks concerned directly,” state minister for information and public relations Perni Venkatramaih alias Nani told media, after the six-hour-long cabinet meet.

On May 30, YSR Congress party chief Reddy took oath as the second chief minister of Andhra Pradesh since its bifurcation in 2014.

The cabinet also decided to constitute AP Rythu Commission [farmers’ commission] to take care of all the needs of the farmers, including supply of inputs besides ensuring remunerative price for their produce. The commission will be headed by the CM and comprise six to seven members, including representatives of farmers and agriculture experts.

Describing the new government as farmer-friendly, Nani said the government decided to start “Rythu Bharosa” scheme from October 15 under which, each farmer would get Rs 12,500 towards crop investment assistance.

The Jagan government also decided to bear the cost of agricultural borewells. The CM directed officials to provide 200 borewell drill rigs for every Assembly and Parliamentary constituency.

“The cabinet also decided that quality rice be distributed in five, 10 and 15 kg packets, besides other essential commodities such as edible oil, pulses, salt and tamarind to the door steps of the households at subsidised rates, so that they don’t have to go to fair price shops to fetch them,” Nani said. The government will make use of four lakh village volunteers, to be appointed from August 15, to ensure supply of the essential commodities to the people, he added.

The cabinet also decided to unveil a housing scheme. “From next year, 25 lakh houses to be constructed in the state every year under YSR Housing Scheme,” the minister said.

The government will introduce yet another scheme – Amma Vodi [mother’s lap], under which each woman who would send her children to schools would be paid Rs 15,000. The scheme would be inaugurated on January 26 next year.