Chandigarh, June 1: Captain Government: Capt Amarinder Singh’s Council of Ministers does not seem to be on the same page with regards to the proposed debt waiver and debt relief for more than 31 lakh farmers.
At least three ministers voiced their opinion against the proposed scheme during the meeting of the Cabinet held earlier this week.
These ministers were reportedly of the opinion that the proposed debt relief would serve little purpose, as the agriculture advances disbursed each year in Punjab were to the tune of Rs14,000 crore. Thus, by the end of the Congress government’s five-year tenure, the farm debt would again stand at Rs70,000 crore, and the party would be unable to reap political benefit out of the scheme.
One of the ministers said that if debt was waived, farmers would keep on availing loans, which incidentally was being given rather “large-heartedly” by private banks — which had enhanced the limits of the small and marginal farmers manifold to fulfil their priority sector lending targets.
Sources said that during the discussions, at least two ministers also expressed their apprehension regarding the delay and reported “dilution” of the debt waiver scheme, which now appears to be more likely a debt relief.
News Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com
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