Loan waiver failed to bail out farmers: Sandra

Khammam: If the government’s claims were true that it had implemented crop loan waiver properly, why the passbooks were still with the bankers?, Telugu Desam vice-president and Sathupalli MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah questioned, demanding the government to come clean on the issue. He threw a volley of questions at the government about crop loan waiver and its implementation, while speaking to media persons here on Monday. “On one hand, the government is claiming that it had fulfilled crop loan waiver promise, but on the other hand, farmers’ passbooks are locked with the banks. As a result, farmers have been running from pillar to post to raise fresh loans,” Sandra said.

We will take the issue to the notice of the Assembly Speaker on November 26, he said, referring to many instances where farmers were told to pay interest amount by the bankers. He urged the farmers’ fora affiliated to various parties to gather the farmers’ list whose loans were waived and interest yet to be paid. Referring to the crop insurance scheme, Sandra stressed the need for changing its norms so that farmers would be benefited.

He demanded the government to take stringent action against spurious seed traders. With the agriculture officials turning a blind eye, spurious seed menace cast its shadow on farmers, he said.Khammam would be the dais for yet another ‘Rythanga Poratam’ (farmers protest) if the government continues to ignore the issues of farmers, he said.

Referring to the Integrated District Collectorate Complex, he criticised the government for its effort to construct it away from the reach of people, this despite adequate land available in the city.TDP district president Tulluri Brahmaiah and party workers attended the meeting.