Rytu Sangham demands white paper on loan waiver

Eluru: AP Rytu Sangham has demanded that the state government release a white paper on waiver of loans to farmers.

A farmers’ meeting was held to discuss on the subject ‘Farm loans and waiver implementation’ here on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, secretary of West Godavari District Upland Committee of the sangham, K Srinivas informed that the total loans given to farmers up to December 2013 in the district account for Rs 7,000 crore. 

The government had waived some loans to cut down the loans dues at Rs 1,600 crore. The government had waived loans to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore only so far. The fourth and fifth phases of loan waiver were pending. 

The state government had allocated funds in the budget for four phases of loan waiver. There was no clarity or explanation from the government on fifth phase of loan waiver. 

The penal interest on loans had exceeded the real loan amount. As a result, the waiver of loans was insufficient even to pay the interest on loan so far. 

The banks have been slapping notices on members of Rytu Mitra and tenant farmers who were ineligible to avail the loan waiver benefit, he lamented.

He complained that the farmers had been frequently approaching the banks over loan waiver and notices. The meeting was attended by Rattaiah, Reddiah and others.