4,000 crore loans to tenant farmers demanded

Eluru: Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham demanded the government extend Rs 4,000 crore worth crop loans to tenant farmers in the district.Addressing the media here on Sunday, the Sangham leaders said that the government had not mentioned allocation of crop loans to tenant farmers during this year's crop plan in the district.

They criticised that the bankers have been extending loans to the landlords while ignoring the tenant farmers, who really cultivate lands. As per Reserve Bank directive the bankers should allot Rs 1.5 lakh interest-free loan to each of the tenant farmers.

They demanded that the government initiate action against the bankers who had been giving loans to landlords by violating rules. They threatened to lock the banks if they failed to issue loans to tenant farmers. The Sangham leaders requested the government to supply seeds at 50 per cent subsidy to the tenant farmers who were getting ready for Kharif crop.