Gidderbaha, May 24: Farm labourers in the state may get a debt waiver of up to Rs 25,000 each as the state government has calculated their total debt to be around Rs 300 crore.
Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who had come here on Wednesday to distribute debt waiver certificates to some farmers, said when he had assumed the charge, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had asked him to calculate the total figure of farm labourers’ debt waiver.
“The total debt of farm labourers amounts to Rs 300 crore and each labourer would be given up to Rs 25,000. I will make an announcement in this regard after the Shahkot bypoll,” he said.
Notably, farm labourers have been protesting for a long time, demanding debt waiver. Even MLA Gidderbaha Amrinder Singh “Raja Warring” in his public speech on Thursday batted for the debt waiver to farm labourers and urged the minister to inform the gathering about the state government’s plan in this regard.
Meanwhile, Randhawa appealed to former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to accompany him to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring farmers out from debt circle.
About meagre debt relief amounts such as Rs 2, 9, 13, 23, 33 listed for some farmers, the minister said preparing lists was a gigantic task and some mistakes might have taken place.
Source Tribune India
