The Hindu : Front Page : One-time settlement of co-op loans for ryots: YSR

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 25, 2005

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One-time settlement of co-op loans for ryots: YSR

Special Correspondent

Action plan drawn up for reviving ailing cooperative sector

CIVIC CHIEFS' CONCLAVE: K Saroja of Kakinada, who is the youngest Mayor, greeting dignitaries on the dais such as APCC president K. Keshava Rao, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and others at a meeting of newly elected Mayors and Municipal Chai rpersons in Hyderabad on Thursday. - Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy has unveiled an action plan for the revival of the ailing cooperative sector, and announced a one-time settlement for clearing the dues that could burden the Government to the tune of Rs.450 crores.

Reiterating the pro-farmer disposition of his Government at a meeting of the newly elected heads of the District Cooperative Central Banks, District Cooperative Marketing Societies and municipalities besides Mayors belonging to the Congress here on Thursday, Dr. Reddy said that if the one-time settlement was not favoured, the banks could consider reducing the penalty.

The Chief Minister said benefits of the cooperative movement could be sustained only if farmers developed the habit of repaying the loans. "Good monsoon should enable them to pay back." He said farmers must be convinced to become partners in progress. Otherwise, it would be like "killing the goose that lays golden eggs," he observed, and called for greater coordination between the Agriculture Department and the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies. He warned the Congress leaders against laxity in implementing the welfare schemes. At the same time, they must tell people to honour their commitments once they became beneficiaries of a programme. "Unless you directly tell the people about this, they will not believe you. Only good work can protect you from the bad press."

Recalling the Opposition's campaign against his call for raising alternative crops in rabi, he said it was uncalled for. "Let us not misuse a facility just because it is free or available abundantly. Ground water must be preserved to avoid hardships during the dry summer days."

Free power supply

Dr. Reddy made it clear that people could not misuse the scheme of free power supply for single-bulb households. They were required to pay for excess consumption and there was nothing wrong if the power utilities insisted on payment for the additional power.

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