Maharashtra Minister Assures Full Crop Loan Waiver Relief

Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne on Wednesday assured farmers that all eligible beneficiaries under the state's crop loan waiver scheme will receive the promised relief.

The minister was speaking to reporters in Pune, where he said the government is currently focusing on farmers eligible for waiver of crop loans up to ₹2 lakh.

Bharne urged farmers not to worry about the implementation process, saying that even if the amount credited by the government to the loan account appears lower initially, the remaining eligible amount will be borne by the nationalised banks as per the understanding reached with them.

He warned that strict action would be taken against any nationalised bank found providing incorrect information or misleading farmers regarding the scheme.

The minister said nearly 31 lakh farmers are included in the first phase of the scheme, with benefits currently being processed for around 16-17 lakh farmers.

He added that nearly five lakh farmers have completed the mandatory e-KYC process, allowing the government to release funds without delays.

According to Bharne, the number of farmers completing e-KYC is increasing daily as technical issues and confusion regarding the portal are being resolved.

The government will first complete payments to farmers with outstanding crop loans of up to ₹2 lakh. After this, beneficiaries under the OTS scheme for loans above ₹2 lakh and farmers eligible for the ₹50,000 incentive for regular loan repayment will be taken up.

The minister said the government's priority is to complete the first phase before moving on to the remaining categories.

Responding to allegations of discrepancies in beneficiary lists, Bharne reiterated that no farmer with a crop loan of up to ₹2 lakh would have to pay anything and errors, if any, would be corrected.

He said the state government aims to cover 56 lakh farmers under the ₹40,000 crore crop loan waiver scheme.

Earlier this month, the state cabinet approved changes to the scheme, removing key eligibility restrictions, including the earlier ₹50,000 limit under the 2019 loan waiver scheme.

The revised policy allows eligible farmers to receive loan waiver benefits of up to ₹2 lakh.

Bharne also highlighted the role of technology in improving agriculture, saying farmers adopting AI-based applications and modern farming practices will be benefited.

The assurance from the minister comes as a relief to the farmers who have been waiting for the benefits of the scheme.

The crop loan waiver scheme is a significant initiative by the state government to support farmers and improve their livelihoods.

The success of the scheme will depend on the effective implementation and the cooperation of the nationalised banks.

In the coming days, the government will have to ensure that the scheme is implemented smoothly and that all eligible farmers receive the benefits.

The crop loan waiver scheme is a step in the right direction, and its successful implementation will have a positive impact on the lives of farmers in Maharashtra.