Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 04 2009:
While farmers falling under small and margin categories have been relieved from the burden of repaying loans owing to a specific Central government policy, there would be no similar respite for farmers owning more than five acres of land.
Information received from a source in the Manipur Pradesh Committee's Kishan Khet Majdoor unit suggest that the Government has set a deadline of June this year to mandatorily clear 75 percent of the loan amount to avoid legal repercussion initiated by the Government.
The source reminded of the Central Government in 2008 implementing schemes of �loan waiving and debt relief' to ease financial crunch endured by small and marginalised section of cultivators which reportedly crossed the Rs 77 crores mark.
The schemes also had a specific guideline/clause for complete waiving of loans granted to farmers in between 1997 and March 3/ 2008, according to the source who further informed that other farmers with larger land holdings (over 5 acre) had already been relieved of 25 percent of the total loan amount they availed from Government undertakings during the same period.
Under a specific guideline of Debt Relief scheme the latter group of farmers are also entitled to interest-free clearance of certain amount of overdue loan within june 30, 2009 with the defaulters liable for prosecution under relevant law.
Apart from the defaulters denied opportunity for interest-free loan clearance there would be no further facility for procuring loans, the source said and urged farmers concerned to repay the overdue amount so as to enjoy periodical financial sops extended by Government agencies.
While highlighting that about 4.30 crore farmers had benefited from the Central government schemes, the source also cautioned the farmer community against dubious NGOs who are out to dupe food providers of the Nation.