Bathinda, 2 May 2018 : Extending relief to all the debt ridden farmers of state, the 7213 farmers of district Bathinda have been given relief of Rs 29.17 cr under the second phase of debt waiver scheme. While the previous governments failed to do anything for the farmers of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh government extended farmers financial help by giving major debt relief. Till September 2018, the debts of 10.45 lacs farmers in state will be written off, said the Finance Minister Punjab Mr Manpreet Singh Badal while presiding over district level debt waiver function held here today.
He said that the Punjab government has waived off farm debts of marginal farmers who have taken loan from cooperative banks upto Rs 2 lacs. Under the first phase, all the 194 cooperative societies of district Bathinda had given Rs 38.34 cr debt waiver to 12560 farmers. Commending the work of cooperative banks, Mr Badal said that under the second phase debt relief has been credited into the accounts of 7213 farmers.
Mr Badal added that to given debt waiver and extend helping hand to farmers, the Punjab government has borrowed Rs 10000 cr loan from various banks. He added that Rs 10000 cr debt of 10.45 lacs farmers was pending which includes Rs 4000 cr debt borrowed from cooperative banks and Rs 6000 cr borrowed from other government and private banks.
Mr Badal added that the Punjab government was not only waiving off debt of farmers, but was also working towards imparting good education and vocational skills to the children of farmers making them ready for industrial jobs. He appealed the farmers to get their children educated even while they faced oddities of life. Better education will ensure that if the children adopt farming, they will be able to get better returns and if they go into job sector, they will attain higher ranks.
Addressing a media query, he said that Rs 200 per month professional tax is being charged from people whose monthly income was more than Rs 33000. Answering another media query regarding Anganwari workers he stated that this scheme was of the center government and that Punjab government shared a part of the honorarium given to these workers. The Punjab government has increased its share and now the Anganwari workers were getting honorarium of Rs 5000 per month. If any further increase has to be made, it has to be done by the center government.
Mr Badal stated that taking tough stand on the SYL issue, Captain Amarinder Singh refused to share Punjab waters with Haryana thereby saving the interests of Punjab’s farmers. Now with the major debt relief, the Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab government has once again proven that his government stands by the farmers through thick and thin.
The Finance Minister today distributed token cheques to Buladhewala farmers Harmandar Singh and Utaar Singh, Gurlal Singh from Sivian, Jasvir Singh from Kotha Guru, Nikku Singh from Balianwali, Sadhu Singh from Swaich Kamalu, Rajinder Singh from Teona Pujarian and Jagsir Singh from village Maluka.
Deputy Commissioner Bathinda Mr Diprava Lakra, Congress urban president Mr Mohan Lal Jhumba, Congress leaders Mr Rajan Garg, media advisor to Finance Minister Mr Harjot Singh Sidhu, Mr Raj Nambardar were present. Besides this staff of the cooperative bank including Managing Director Mr Jagdeep Singh Sidhu, deputy registrar Mr Balwinder Singh,assistant registrar Captain Gurvir Singh Dhillon, assistant registrar cooperative society Phul Mr Major Singh, senior manager OP Romana, senior manager Mr Baljinder Singh Brar, senior manager Mr Labh Singh Brar and others were also present.
Source: http://www.babushahi.com
