Mumbai: The Maharashtra government told the assembly on Friday that it is committed to cover all farmers in the state under its loan waiver scheme. The state government said that there has been some delay in the implementation of this scheme due to the COVID-19 epidemic, but all the farmers will get its benefit.
Replying to a question during the discussion on the subject during Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that 31.81 lakh farmers are eligible to get the benefit of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Agriculture Loan Waiver Scheme of the state government. “So far, loans worth Rs 20,290 crore have been waived off. The eligible farmers who have not yet got the benefit of the loan waiver scheme, will be provided the benefit of the scheme by making provision of funds through supplementary demands in this session and later during the budget session.
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It is worth noting that after coming to power in Maharashtra, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government had announced to waive loans of farmers up to Rs 2 lakh. The Deputy Chief Minister said that if the farmers who have taken loans of more than two lakh rupees pay the additional amount, then their two lakh rupees will also be waived off. Apart from this, ex-gratia will be provided to the farmers who pay the loan regularly.
Pawar said, “The government is committed to fulfill the promise of loan waiver for farmers. The economic condition of the state is not good due to the lockdown implemented in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, as taxes of more than Rs 1 lakh crore have not come to the state exchequer.