3.24 lakh farmers given Rs 582 cr loan at Rs six per cent:Dr Kadam

Mumbai, July 03 (UNI) Maharashtra Cooperation minister Dr Patangrao Kadam today said 3.24 lakh farmers from six districts of Vidarbha, were given a loan of Rs 582 .16 crore at the rate of Rs six per cent interest from April 1 till June 28.

Replying to the five hour-long discussion on the suicides of farmers in Vidarbha, Dr Kadam said the government was implementing its package which it had announced in last december during the winter session.

He said the government has so far distributed cotton of Rs 388 crore to the farmers.

Referring to the query of compensation to the relatives of 850 farmers who had committed suicide, Dr Kadam said 375 cases were found genuine and were given the compensation while the orders were given to recheck remaining 511 cases.

He also said the farmers were given Rs 30,000 in cash while NSC certificate of s 70,000.

Earlier, initiating the discussion, leader of the opposition Pandurang Phundkar alleged that the package was mere an eyewash and it was done with a view to strengthen the cooperative banks.

Senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari alleged that out of Rs 3750 core package announced by the Prime minister Rs 3283 crore would go the cooperative banks while Rs 477 crore were given earlier under horticulture mission.

He further alleged that the farmers of these districts will get the benefit of Rs 183 crore only from the package.

B T Deshmukh (ind) blamed on the lack of irrigation facilities in Vidarbha and backlog in Vidarbha as a major reason for suicides.

Prof Jogendra Kawade (RPI) , who hails from Nagpur said it seems that formation of separate Vidarbha could be the only alternative to stop the suides.

Dilip Deshmukh, Sudhakar Gangane (congress), Gurunath Kulkarni (NCP), Diwakar Raote (sena) also participated in the discussion.

UNI JM RL RN2159