Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh (in pic) on Monday announced total waiver of crop loans of up to Rs 2 lakh of small and marginal farmers. He also announced a flat Rs 2 lakh relief for all marginal farmers, irrespective of the loan amount.
The announcement has thus paved way for eventual total waiver of agricultural debts, which was a major poll promise of the Congress during the Punjab Assembly polls in March this year. The chief minister noted the waiver would benefit 10.25 lakh farmers, including 8.75 lakh farmers holding up up to five acres.
The initiative would provide double the relief announced by Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra to farmers there, he said.
He said the decision was based on the interim report of the expert group, headed by eminent economist T Haque, which was tasked with suggesting ways and means to help the state’s distressed farming community.
Opposition SAD and its ally BJP were not present in the House when the chief minister made the announcement as they had staged a walkout on another issue.
