Rs 521-cr rehabilitation package for Waynad farmers

Thiruvananthapuram, June 28 (UNI) Kerala Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran told the State Assembly today that the government had submitted a memorandum to the Planning Commission, requesting Central assistance for the implementation of a Rs 521 crore package for the rehabilitation of the debt-trapped farmers of Wayand district.

Replying to a calling attention motion by M V Shreyams Kumar (JD-S), he said the memorandum was submitted to a three-member Planning Commission team when it visited Wayanad district where several farmers committed suicide, unable to repay loans taken from banks and private moneylenders.

Mr Ratnakaran said the government had taken various steps to provide relief to the farmers, including writing off farm loans up to Rs one lakh. Banks and other financial institutions had also been asked to take a lenient stand towards the debt-ridden farmers, he added.

UNI PMM SI KP1439