Hooda extends interest waiving scheme on co-op loans

Chandigarh, Oct 26 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced to extend the interest waiving scheme on cooperative loans up to December this year.

Addressing a large number of farmers who called on him at his residence here to express gratitude for making strenuous efforts for lifting the ban on the export of non-basmati rice, Mr Hooda said that earlier the date of this scheme was extended upto September this year.

Farmers, labourers and loanees had been benefitted to the tune of Rs 830 crore by this scheme, he added.

He said with the lifting of ban on the export of non-basmati rice, interests of the farmers and traders had been safeguarded.

Mr Hooda said that being a farmer he was aware of the problems of the farmers and he would always stand by the interests of this working community.

Leaders of Kisan Unions, who had been critical of the policies of previous governments, also came forward to applaud Mr Hooda.

Noted Kisan Union leader Guni Parkash said the leaders proclaiming themselves as the leaders of the farming community did nothing for the farmers.

He said Mr Hooda had kept his promises. It was Mr Hooda who asserted bravely in the firing incident of village Kandela in district Jind during the tenure of previous government that he would face the next bullet on his chest, he added.

Mr Prem Singh Dahiya, another leader of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, said Mr Hooda was the real hero of farmers after Deen Bandhu Sir Chhotu Ram. He declared MrHooda as the 'messiah of the farmers.'' Mr Hooda said the Haryana government had taken a number of steps to safeguard the interests of the farmers. He said that royalty for the lands acquired by Government has been enhanced from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per acre per year. A sum of Rs 500 per acre per year would also be added to this royalty. The royalty would be apart from the compensation given to the farmers for their lands, he added.

He also highlighted that highest sugarcane price in the country had been rewarded to the sugarcane growers and their balance towards sugar mills had also been released.

Mr Hooda said maximum power had been made available to the farmers to protect their paddy crop from drought. He said that Congress had always supported the cause of the working class.

Minimum Support Price for wheat had been enhanced up to Rs1000 per quintal. A bonus of Rs 50 had also been announced on the purchase of paddy, he added.

UNI