Minister Sudhakaran criticises NABARD's functioning

Kochi, Apr 12 (UNI) Kerala Cooperative Minister G Sudhakaran today criticised the National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) for not doing enough to assist the farmers in the state.

Inaugurating the state Cooperative unions meet here, Mr Sudhakaran said the state government would lodge a formal complaint with the Centre against the NABARD's functioning.

He said while the NABARD was insisting on charging seven per cent interest on agricultural loans, the state government was giving loans to the farmers at 5.5 per cent interest rate.

Accusing the previous UDF government of appointing ''unqualified people'' to cooperative banks, the Minister said the LDF government would make efforts to run the banks on professional lines by appointing professional managers to the senior positions.

He said the government was considering enacting a law to take over the Pariyaram Medical College in Kannur.

UNI