Bangalore: Janata Dal (Secular) national president H.D. Deve Gowda has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram to implement the announcement in the Union Budget on reducing the interest rate on farm loans to seven per cent. He has also urged Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to implement proposal in the State Budget to provide farm loans at an interest rate of four per cent.

The State Government has urged nationalised banks to provide agricultural loans at reduced interest rates. At present only cooperative banks and primary cooperative societies giveloans at the Government- prescribed interest rate.

Commitment

Mr. Deve Gowda told presspersons here on Thursday that the State Government should go ahead with the proposal to extend farm loans at subsidised rates irrespective of what the Centre did. "It is a commitment made to the people under the aegis of the Karnataka Development Forum comprising the Janata Dal (S) and the BJP. With the Government led by the JD(S), it is naturally my duty to ensure that the Government earns a good name by implementing the revolutionary programme. The main aim of the programme is to prevent suicide by farmers, which has been on the increase over the past five years," the former Prime Minister has said in his letter to Mr. Kumaraswamy.

In his letters to Dr. Singh and Mr. Chidambaram, Mr. Deve Gowda has said, "You are well aware that I have been fighting for the cause of the farmers throughout my long political career. In his budget speech, Mr. Chidambaram had specifically announced a loan facility for farmers through commercial and cooperative banks at seven per cent interest. Even this half-hearted measure has not been implemented yet."

The kharif sowing season had started and farmers were in urgent need of financial assistance. "Some farmers approached me and drew my attention to their problems. It is learnt that neither the Reserve Bank of India nor NABARD has given any guidelines and directions to financial institutions so far although the Finance Minister has interacted with some of the financial institutions in this matter. Unless clear-cut directions are issued, the scheme will not be implemented. Please look into this serious issue and take appropriate steps," he has said.

Meeting suggested

In his letter to the Chief Minister, Mr. Deve Gowda has suggested that he immediately call a meeting of senior officials connected with the Apex Cooperative Bank, district cooperative banks and top officials of the Agriculture, Finance and Horticulture departments and finalise measures to implement the programme.

The former Prime Minister has urged the Chief Minister to also call for reports on the available stock of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides and ensure that there are sufficient stocks to meet the demand.

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