List of farm loan waiver to be ready by June 23: Chidambaram

Bangalore, Jun 16 (UNI) The Union Finance Ministry has issued strict directions to all the Nationalised Banks to publish the list of farmers eligible for farm loan waiver scheme as announced by the Union government by June 23, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said today.

Speaking to farmers at a branch of the public sector Vijaya Bank here at Vidyanagar on the outskirts of the city, he said that the banks had been told that no eligible farmer should be left out of the Rs 71,000 loan waiver scheme.

"We are committed to provide you the relief and we are very serious to implement it in a time-bound manner," he said.

During his visit the Finance Minister personally verified the accounts relating the debt waiver and relief scheme and expressed satisfaction over the work done so far at the branch.

While stating that no eligible farmers will be left out from the scheme Mr Chidambaram also directed the officials to take care of even those who were not eligible and include them in the scheme.

He said that the entire crop loan availed by the small and marginal farmers the cut off date on March 31, 2007, would be waived off while others will get one-time discount of 25 per cent if they pay back the entire loan.

He said that the total farm waiver burden of Vijaya Bank would around Rs 313 crore in which Rs 246 crore was disbursed to small and marginal farmers towards crop loan.

Mr Chidambaram also informed that there was a provision to file objections if any if names of any eligible beneficiaries was left out and the concerned farmers can approach their branches and lodge a complaint. The designated officer of the concerned branch would look into the complaint and give a written reply for the bank's action, he said.

He assured fresh loans to farmers whose loans had been written off. "The ministry have issued directions on the matter," he said.

Vijaya Bank Chairman and Managing Director Prakash Mallya, Canara Bank CMD M D N Rao and other senior officials of the banks were also present on the occasion.

UNI MV RS TS1641