Maharashtra budget to be farmer friendly, says Patil

Mumbai, Mar 6 (UNI) Ruling out the possibilty of waiver of farmers' loan taken from non-institutional sources, inclusding moneylenders, Maharashtra Finance and Planning Minister Jayantrao Patil signalled today that forthcoming state budget would also be farmer friendly.

Talking to UNI on the sidelines of an international communications conference organised by the Indian Merchants' Chamber here today, Mr Patil said, ''We cannot track the record of these kind of off-bank system transanctions. It is just not possible for any government in the world to waive loans taken from outside the banking system.'' He said that Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had already urged Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram to bring some more reform in the proposal of loan waiver for farmers.

He said due to the Union Budget proposals, more than 75 per cent of the farmers in the state will be benefited, who have an average land holding of 5 acres.

When asked about the state government's budget to be presented in the State legislature session beginning on March 10, Mr Patil said it will also be farmer-friendly.

'' Like the Government at the Centre, the Government here too is ours.'' He, however, declined to disclose further details.

UNI PP-CP SR/MAZ AKJ