Upset with the continuing trend of farmers committing suicide, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday made it clear that the Government had already issued orders that there would be no kurki (auction of mortgaged land of farmers). At the same time, he also assured that the farm debt would soon be waived off.
Wondering if the Government’s message has reached the farmers at the grass root, Capt Amarinder appealed to the debt-ridden farmers in the State not to commit suicide. “We have made this promise and we will fulfil it…we are working it (pre-poll promise of debt waiver),” he said.
He expressed astonishment that despite Government’s decision to end the system of kurki, and assurance that farm debt will be waived off soon, 21 farmers have committed suicides.
“Don’t take such steps…we are here for you and we have made a promise (debt waiver) in this regard…The way they (farmers) commit suicides...I am not able to understand the scenario,” said Capt Amarinder, while addressing a gathering during an interactive session of the PHD Chamber of Commerce.
He said his Government had already set up an expert group led by T Haque, former chairman of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), to assess the quantum of agricultural debt of farmers in the State and suggest way and means for its waiver.
Capt Amarinder said the Committee had been asked to submit its report to the Government within 60 days.
Before coming to power in the State, the Congress in its election manifesto had promised debt waiver to farmers. “Karza-kurki khatam (eliminate loan and auction), fasal di poori rakam’ (complete payment of crops)” was the popular campaign slogan of the party.
Capt Amarinder had earlier announced that the ‘kurki’ (auction) clause under Section 67A of the Punjab Cooperative Societies Act, 1961, would go, saying that he was committed to implementing every single promise made in the Congress election manifesto for Punjab.