Farm loan waiver in budget too little, too late: Govind Singh Dotasara

Congress whip Govind Singh Dotasara on Monday claimed that the Raje government used only 8 percent budget allocation for agriculture in the last financial year and demanded a complete loan waiver for farmers, terming the government budget announcement of waiving off Rs 50,000 loan a drop in the ocean.

Dotasara, speaking over grants, in the House, raised the issue ‘insincerity’ of the Raje government towards agriculture and agrarian community. “CM Raje had approved Rs1,723 crore for agriculture in her previous budget (2017-18), of which Rs139 crore was spent till November-December which is 8 percent of entire budget. Rs520 crore was sanctioned for sprinkler and other grants, of which only Rs800 crore was spent. This is also only 15 percent of entire budget allocation,” said Dotasara.

The Laxmangarh MLA also informed the House about plight of farmers who are committing suicides due to the apathy of the government. He alleged that the latest budget did not heeded to the grievances of the agriculture and animal husbandry sectors. The member recalled that in previous budget 10 pages were dedicated to announcements on agriculture and animal husbandry. But this year, it contains only four pages.

Dotasara accused the government of inserting riders in waiving off loans to small and marginal farmers as per budget announcement.