No burden of past loans for Vidarbha farmers: PM

NAGPUR: “Farmers will have no past burden as of today,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday, announcing a Rs3,750 crore package for farmers in the six worst-hit western districts of Vidarbha — Yavatmal, Amravati, Akola, Wardha, Washim and Buldana.

The package, reworked till the last minute by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, will wipe out Rs712 crore of overdue interest (till June 30, 2006) and infuse fresh institutional credit of Rs 1275 crore for the 2006-07 season.

The PM said these were the priorities for farmers to resume normal agriculture activities. He added that his office “will monitor implementation of the package of relief measures”.

Sharad Pawar later said similar packages would be worked out for 25 suicide-affected districts in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.

Figures

• Rs712 cr overdue interest waived. Rs1,296 cr overdue loans rescheduled
• Rs 1275 crore of fresh institutional credit for the 2006-07 season
• Rs240 crore for watershed development and water harvesting
• Rs2,177 crore for improving irrigation facilities over the next 3 years
• Rs135 crore to encourage subsidiary income through livestock, cattle
• Rs180 crore for a seed replacement programme
• Rs225 crore assistance under National Horticulture Mission