“Congress has waived Rs 18,000 crore in agricultural loans in seven-eight months”: Telangana Minister

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 19 (ANI): Telangana Civil Supplies and Irrigation Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy has praised the agricultural loan waiver scheme implemented by the Telangana government under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, and Agriculture Minister Nageshwar Rao.

He described it as a historic move, unprecedented in the history of independent India, where such a significant amount of debt has been forgiven, sending a strong message to the entire nation.

Addressing a press conference at Jal Soudha along with Minister Jupally Krishan Rao, MLC T Jeevan Reddy and others on Monday, Uttam Kumar Reddy detailed the government’s efforts, noting that loans up to Rs 1 lakh were waived on July 18, followed by loans up to Rs 1.5 lakh on July 30, and finally, loans up to Rs 2 lakh by August 15. He acknowledged that some farmers might not have got their loans waived, probably due to information about Aadhar cards/ration cards/passbooks not being complete or some minor errors in bank data, stated an official release by the Congress party.

Uttam Kumar Reddy further stated that the Telangana government fulfilled its promise by waiving loans up to Rs 2 lakh by August 15. He addressed concerns that some farmers might not have had their loans waived due to issues with Aadhaar cards, ration cards, or bank passbooks, reassuring them that these issues would be resolved, and their loans would be forgiven. He urged farmers not to worry, as the government is committed to correcting the wrong decisions made by the previous administration, the release stated.

He mentioned that the Aadhaar numbers of 1.2 lakh farmers were found to be incorrect, with some providing 11 or 13 digits instead of the standard 12 digits. Each mandal’s Agriculture Officer has been instructed to collect and upload the details of farmers not included in the loan waiver scheme, and their loans will also be waived. Additionally, 1.61 lakh farmers had discrepancies between their Aadhaar and bank account names, which are being corrected to include them in the scheme.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also pointed out that 4.83 lakh farmers do not have ration cards, and Agriculture Officers have been directed to visit their homes to collect details. Once verified, their loans will be waived. Furthermore, loans exceeding Rs 2 lakh, such as a farmer owing Rs 2.15 lakh, will see the government pay off Rs 2 lakh if the farmer pays the remaining Rs 15,000.

Minister Uttam stated that the Congress government has waived Rs 18,000 crore in agricultural loans within 7-8 months, compared to the BRS government’s much smaller loan waivers over several years, which primarily covered interest payments rather than the principal amounts.

He criticized the BRS government’s failure to waive any loans during its first five years and its negligible efforts during its second term.

He also noted that the Congress government has established a grievance cell to address farmers’ complaints and ensure that all eligible loans are waived as promised.

Uttam Kumar Reddy criticised BRS party for spreading misinformation and attempting to mislead farmers regarding the loan waiver. He highlighted that despite participating in several parliamentary debates over the past five years concerning agriculture and farmers, the BJP government at the center has failed to take any substantial steps to address farmers’ issues.

He pointed out that while the Manmohan Singh government had previously waived agricultural loans on a large scale, the BJP has not even broached the subject, let alone taken action.

He noted that despite the BJP’s repeated promises over the past decade to double farmers’ incomes, no concrete measures have been implemented. In contrast, the Congress government in Telangana has made a bold and revolutionary decision to waive agricultural loans, a move that Uttam Kumar Reddy believes should be celebrated rather than criticised by opposition parties, the release added.

He advised farmers to disregard the opposition’s false propaganda, assuring them that all eligible farmers’ loans would be waived.

Uttam Kumar Reddy criticised the BRS government for not providing crop insurance during its ten-year tenure, despite numerous instances of crop damage due to unseasonal rains. He pointed out that the BRS government did not pay any compensation to farmers during this period. In contrast, the Congress government has introduced a crop insurance scheme and will provide an RS 500 bonus on fine paddy this season. He added that the Congress government has already compensated farmers for crops damaged by unseasonal rains and hailstorms.