Assembly adopts bill seeking relief to debt-ridden farmers

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 29 (UNI) The Kerala Assembly today adopted a legislation providing for the setting up of a Commission headed by a retired High Court judge to got into cases of debt owed by farmers to institutions of credit and settle them through arbitration.

The Commission to be set as per the legislation - Kerala Farmers' Debt Relief Bill, 2006 - will have powers for one-time settlement, rescheduling and waiver of interest on farm loans.

Farmers having four hectares of land with an annual income of Rs two lakh would come under the purview of the Bill.

The five-member Commission headed by a retired High Court judge would have an agriculture expert and farmers' representatives as mebers.

Winding up the three-day debate on the Bill, Revenue Minister K P Rajendran said as many as 50 amendments brought by members both from the Treasury and Opposition benches had been incorporated in the Bill.

Later talking to mediapersons, he said members of the Commission would be decided and rules framed within three weeks. The Commission was expected to start functioning by the end of next month.

The Bill was passed in the absence of Opposition members who boycotted the fag end of the session alleging that none of their amendments were accepted. They also contended that the Bill was not going to provide any relief to the debt-ridden farmers.

The House was later adjourned sine die.

UNI PMM1830