Rs 450 crore co-operative interest waiver for poor: Hooda

Narwana, Feb 11 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that under the interest waiving scheme of co-operative banks, the interest amounting to Rs 450 crore has been waived off to the marginal farmers, petty shopkeepers and artisans in the state and this scheme could be extended if the need arose.

The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering on the occasion of celebration of 127th Jayanti of Sir Chhotu Ram which was organised by the Deen Bandhu Chhotu Ram Memorial Trust here today.

Earlier, the Chief Minister paid floral tributes on the statue of Deen Bandhu Sir Chhotu Ram and hailed him as a crusader of farmers, poor and oppressed people.

While referring to the waiving of remaining power bills in the state amounting to Rs 1600 crore of farmers, labourers and other rural populace, the Chief Minister said that the state had taken this decision following the Cherished principles of Sir Chhotu Ram and had implemented Haryana Loan Act under which cooperative bank could not charge interest on agricultural loans more than the principle amount.

He recalled Sir Chhotu Ram had got implemented loan redemption Act in 1934 for the benefit of the farmers. He reminded that Ch Chhotu Ram was also main instrument behind passing Punjab Agriculture Produce Market Act, 1939 which was later called "Mandi Bill" and main aim of this Bill was to ensure the remunerative prices for the farmers of their produce.

The Chief Minister said that under the interest waiving scheme of Co-operative Banks the marginal farmers, Artisan and petty shopkeepers would get the benefit amounting to Rs 830 crore.

With a view to promote technical education, he also announced to provide a sum of Rs 10 lakh from his discretionary fund for setting up of a computer centre in Neki Ram Kisan Bhawan, Narwana.

The Chief Minister honoured Deputy Commission Mohali Harjeet Singh Grewal, Prof Raghvender Singh Tanwar of Kurukshetra University, President of Haryana Rice Millers Association Azad Singh Rathi and Rameshwar Chopra by presenting a Memento and Shawal on behalf of Sir Chhohtu Ram Memorial Trust.

UNI XC JN BP1819