The Hindu : Kerala News : Debt relief panel holds sitting in Malappuram

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Debt relief panel holds sitting in Malappuram

Staff Reporter

Most farmers to miss Central waiver scheme

MALAPPURAM: The Farmers Debt Relief Commission began its three-day sitting at the Government Guest House here on Tuesday.

Out of the 48 cases that the Commission considered on Tuesday, 30 were settled. It recommended a debt relief of Rs.4.13 lakh to the farmers affected by natural disasters. The banks were also asked to give an aid of Rs.31,583 to the farmers.

However, the Single Bench Commission comprising N. Chandrasekharan Nair, K.G. Ravi, and Satyan Mokeri did not sound optimistic about the succour the afflicted farmers were to get.

Although the Commission had recommended a debt relief of Rs.16 crore after settling nearly 4,000 cases till March 31, the government was yet to pay anything to the farmers. The government had kept aside Rs.131 crore in the last budget, and Rs. 51 crore in the current fiscal. But the calamity-hit farmers were yet to get the relief.

Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac had said that a good chunk of the debts owed by the farmers to the banks would be waived under a special scheme announced by the Central government. But, the Commission here on Tuesday pointed out that hardly any could be waived.

Commission member K.G. Ravi said that the most farmers would miss the Central waiver scheme as the loans were not availed under agricultural category. The cooperative banks in the State had encouraged the farmers to avail themselves of the loans under non-agricultural category citing various reasons.

A total of 300 cases are to be considered in the three-day sitting of the Commission. The Commission kept aside 18 cases on Tuesday owing to various factors.

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