Farm waiver scheme not to include loans from money lenders

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) The Government today said it will not modify the debt waiver scheme for farmers to include loans taken from money lenders.

The Government has no scheme at present to waive off loans taken by farmers from money lenders, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar categorically stated in the Lok Sabha.

''It is not possible to take that responsibility now as some States have not kept records of money lenders,'' Mr Pawar said, replying to a supplementary by Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI).

The Left has been demanding that the Government extend the debt waiver scheme for farmers announced in the 2008-09 Budget to include loans taken from money lenders as it was such indebtedness that led to suicides.

According to Government estimates, about 30 million small and marginal farmers and about 10 million other farmers will benefit from the debt waiver scheme, Mr Pawar said.

UNI YJ MIR RAI1830