Late loan waiver for 223 villages in Pune district

Representational image

FARMERS IN 223 villages in Pune district will have to wait longer than the rest of the district for loan waiver relief due to the ongoing model code of conduct in force here for Gram Panchayat elections. Pune District Collector Saurabh Rao said, “Of the 2.98 lakh farmers in 1,464 villages in the district, who have applied for loan waiver, farmers in 1,241 villages will get the relief funds before Diwali (October 19).”

He added that as part of the procedure of scrutinising the application, Chawri Vachan — public reading of the names of farmers who have applied for a loan waiver — is a must in every village. After the public reading, farmers can approach the administration with their grievances or complaints. “Due to the code of conduct, which will end October 16, Chawri Vachan can’t happen in 223 villages. Once it is withdrawn, we will move ahead with the process and try to disburse the loan amount within a few days. This might happen a couple of days after Diwali,” he said.

Rao added that the administration has received 567 complaints regarding ‘non-eligible’ individuals applying for the waiver.
“We have received them (the complaints) from other farmers. Most of these were submitted in the written form. These complaints will be examined by a committee, headed by a tehsildar. Those dissatisfied with the decision of the committee, can approach an appellate committee, headed by the sub-divisional office,” he said.