As demand of crop loan waiver has been singeing many parts of country, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that loan up to Rs 1 lakh would be waived off and loan waiver certificates would be given to the beneficiaries immediately after the state budget.
An announcement to this effect was made by the Chief Minister after a high-level meeting of Finance department about crop loan waiver held in lukcnow on Friday.
The CM said that as the Government is morally bound to clear loan up to Rs 1 lakh, directives whould be issued to the banks to prepare a list of bonafide farmers and not to send any notice to farmers till the Government passes the budget.
“This government decision will benefit over 86 lakh small and marginal farmers,” he said.
In Friday's meeting, it was decided that a committee headed by District Magistrate would monitor loan waiver scheme in districts. The committee whould spread the message about loan waiver to farmers.
“Bank accounts of bonafide farmers should be linked with Aadhar card and all other formalities including KYC should be completed,” the CM said
Crop loan waiver was a political issue as BJP had announced to this effect during its poll campaign. Fulfilling one of its key poll promises, the Yogi Government announced waiver of farm loan for small and marginal farmers to the tune of over Rs 36,359 crore in the first cabinet meeting of the BJP Government held on April 4.
There are around 2.15 crore small and marginal farmers, which is about 92.5 per cent of the total farming community and the total number stand at 2.30 crore.
“The Government has decided to waive all outstanding crop loans due to small and marginal farmers as on March 31, 2017 taken till March 31, 2016 up to a maximum limit of Rs 1 lakh per farmer,” Government spokesman and Health minister Sidharthnath Singh said.
In addition, Singh said the state government will settle dues for all those accounts which have been declared 'Non-Performing Assets' (NPA) by banks under 'One Time Settlement' (OTS) scheme. “The total financial burden would be Rs 36,359 crore of which Rs 5630 crore will go for OTS which will benefit 7 lakh farmers,” he said.
Finance minister Rajesh Agarwal said that the BJP Government had made some promises which need to be fulfilled. "We are clear about our responsibilities. Whatever payments need to be made, would be made in due time. We will also clear cane farmers’ dues and pay other dues,” he said.
Meanwhile, Agarwal said that the UP Government till date has purchased 32.16 lakh metric tonnes of wheat which was four times as compared to last year. "This year the Government has paid Rs 22,190 crore as cane dues," the minister said.