Maharashtra PSBs meet barely 30% of Kharif crop loan Targets-Kishore Tiwari

Maharashtra PSBs meet barely 30% of Kharif crop loan Targets-Kishore Tiwari 
Dated: August 14, 2018

Nationalised banks in Maharashtra have disbursed barely 30% of the crop loan targets issued by the state government for the kharif season of 2017-18. This finding came to light after a review meeting of bankers held by the state-sponsored Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavalambi Mission (VNSSM) today in Pune. Farmer activist and VNSSM chairman Kishore Tiwari on Monday held a review meeting with the State Level Bankers Committee (SBLC) and issued an ultimatum to the banks to meet their crop loan targets.

The Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Svavlamban Mission (VNSSM), a farmers' task force in Maharashtra , has urged State Level Bankers Committee (SBLC) to urgently clear the Maharashtra government's plan to extend fresh crop loans to farmers as the state wants to bring around 80 percent debt-trapped farmers under bank loans to arrest farmland suicides in 14 of the worst-hit districts.

For the Kharif season of 2017-18 PSBs has given Rs.24253 crore target whereas total disbursement of crop loan as per data of SLBC is only Rs.7492 crore , this is for the Kharif season of 2017-18 due to  apathy and hostile functioning of the public sector banks which hampers the state's proposal to give fresh loans to  all previous defaulters since 2001 even after mega loan waiver given by the state to nearly 4 million farmers," Tiwari said.

Akola 25%, Amaravati 31%, and Washim 16% and Wardha 34% from Vidarbha whereas Beed 15%  Hingoli 16% Parbhani 15% from Marathwada rea worst performance in crop loan disbursement even after the state government has initiated several direct and indirect interventions covering various aspects concerning the 13.6 million registered defaulter farmers.

"As a major relief, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced mega agriculture loan waiver  to at least 80 percent of these farmers by all pending crop loans since 2001  in June 2017 but even after 14 months there is massive confusion in online list of benefiting farmers defeating the purpose of granting the loan waiver to the dying farmers thanks to most corrupt and nonaccountable lobby of babus working for the finalisation of list ," Tiwari pointed out.

"The VNSSM wants PSBs to adopt a mature stand and immediately re-examine the issue to meet the target of bringing 80 percent farmers under bank loan net by August  30 and help prevent suicides," Tiwari said.--

If any farmer commits suicide, if he is not being given loans by these banks, the mission will treat the case as culpable homicide and seek action against the concerned officer, Tiwari warned, adding that no farmer should suffer because of red tapism. “Nationalised banks are hostile to farmer issues and are working against farmer interests,” he alleged.

The Maharashtra government has targeted a disbursal of crop loans worth R43,873 crore to farmers in the state this Kharif season. Of these, district cooperative banks are expected to disburse crop loans worth R13193 crore by now DCCBs have disbursed Rs.8281 crore which 63% of total given target.

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