The newly-appointed Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot on 19th December announced farm loan waiver taken from cooperative banks and up to Rs. 2 lakh from other banks. The decision comes after Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh declared farm loan waivers on Monday. For this, the Rajasthan government would bear a burden of Rs. 18,000 crore.
Earlier in the week, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath had inked documents to waive off farm loan, keeping the promises made by the Congress during the pre-polls. Later, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel also announced farm loan waiver worth Rs 6,100 crore of about 1.66 million farmers.
Gehlot said, “The decision was made after a proper detailed discussion with officers from the concerned departments. A roadmap has also been prepared so that the officials do not face problem in following the decision”. Moreover, the scheme will be for farmers who have been in debt till 30th November.
Gehlot told that it had waived short-term farm loan of only up to Rs 50000 borrowed from cooperative banks. Now the Rs 50,000-limit has been removed, the Minister said mentioning the scheme the BJP government announced earlier in 2018.
He said the previous BJP government’s scheme would have cost Rs 8,000 crore but merely Rs 2,000 were used in writing off the loans and the left over burden has been passed on to the new government. Gehlot highlighted that farmers’ who are not able to pay back their loans committed suicide in the state.
Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi, a day before said, “The Modi government after coming to power did not waive a single rupee. We had promised loan waiver during election campaigns and delivered it in 6 hours in two states and Rajasthan will follow it soon.”
Rahul added that “We won’t let the PM rest until he waives the loans. Congress party manifesto for the year 2019 would promise farm loan waiver. We will do it – guaranteed 100%– if the Modi government doesn’t do it by then”.
