Three lakh benefit under loan waiving scheme in Haryana

Chandigarh, Nov 4 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that 3.50 lakh marginal farmers, small shopkeepers and artisans had so far been benefited to the tune of Rs 400 crore under the Cooperative Loan Waiving Scheme.

The scheme aimed at benefiting these sections of the society to the tune of Rs 830 crore, he added.

This was revealed by Chief Minister while addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of the Panipat Central Cooperative Bank Limited to be constructed at a cost of over Rs 1.32 crore here today.

Mr Hooda urged the people that they should avail the benefit of the ambitious scheme as it had been extended upto December 31. He said that the date of the scheme had been extended on the demand of the marginal farmers, small shopkeepers and artisans.

He said that the rate of interest had been reduced from 11 per cent to 7 per cent on crop loans besides two per cent concession in the interest would also be given to those farmers who would deposit their installments well in time during this financial year.

He sought the cooperation of the people to make cooperative movement a great success at par with the Gujarat and Maharashtra. He said that the state Government had also taken a significant decision according to which no farmer would be arrested in future for the recovery of cooperative loans. He said that black law of arresting the farmers had been abolished.

The Chief Minister said that the cooperative banks were fulfilling 70 per cent demands of the people by providing them loans and out of this 65 per cent loans were being given to the marginal farmers. He directed the people associated with the cooperative movement to serve the masses.

He said that those employees who would be found indulging in malpractices would not be spared and on the other hand those employees would be rewarded who would work hard with honesty. He urged the people to propagate the cooperative movement in the State in a big way.

While referring to the law and order situation in the state, the he announced that no anti social element would be allowed to walk freely. There would be no place of notorious people in the State, he asserted.

Cooperation Minister H S Chatha also addressed the gathering at the function.

UNI