No scheme to waive off loans taken from money lenders: Pawar

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 5:03 [IST]

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) 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 today.

''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 Das Gupta (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.

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Topics: law-grey areas

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