Under pressure to act quickly on his poll promise of waiving off farm loans to distressed farmers in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on Monday announced total waiver of entire crop loans of up to Rs. 2 lakh for small and marginal farmers (those who own up to 5 acres), and a flat Rs. 2 lakh relief for all other marginal farmers, irrespective of their loan amount.
Addressing the state legislative assembly, he said the move would benefit 10.25 lakh farmers, including 8.75 lakh farmers who own up to 5 acres. The initiative would provide double the relief announced by the states of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, he claimed.
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Photo By: Life In Chandigarh
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The state government decision is based on the interim report of the Expert Group, headed by eminent economist Dr. T. Haque, tasked with suggesting ways and means to help the state’s distressed farming community.
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Capt. Amarinder said his government had also additionally decided to take over the outstanding crop loans from institutional sources of families of all farmers who committed suicides in the state. The ex-gratia amount for suicide affected families has been raised from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, he added.
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For debt relief to farmers who had raised loans from non-institutional sources, the government has decided to review the Punjab Settlement of Agriculture Indebtedness Act to provide the desired relief to the farmers through mutually acceptable debt reconciliation and settlement, statutorily binding on both the parties, the lender and the borrower. The government has already constituted a Cabinet Sub Committee to review this Act, he said.
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The Chief Minister requested the Speaker to constitute a 5-member committee of Vidhan Sabha to visit the families of the suicide victims, ascertain the reasons for the suicides and suggest further steps to be taken to check such tragedies.
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Appeal : Big farmers give up power subsidy
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Capt. Amarinder Singh promised that free power to farmers will continue. But on lines of PM’s appeal to haves to give up LPG subsidy, he appealed to all big and well-to-do farmers of the state to give up power subsidy voluntarily in the interest of the state. He announced giving up the subsidy at his own farms to set a personal example.
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