Learning A Lesson From MP Farmers' Protest, Yogi Asks Banks Not To Send Notices To UP Farmers

With a farmers¡¯ agitation simmering in Madhya Pradesh over a loan waiver demand, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed banks not to issue any notices of default to farmers in UP till his government comes good on its loan waiver announcement.

reuters

The UP government had in a cabinet meeting in April announced a Rs 36,500 crore loan waiver for nearly 86 lakh farmers in the state, one of the biggest loan waivers done by any state from its own coffers.

Also Read: Madhya Pradesh Govt Admits That Police Opened Fired In Which Five Farmers Were Killed

ap

However, the promise is still to reflect on the ground since the state budget is yet to be passed. In the interim, the UP government has now instructed banks not to seek loan repayments or issue any default notices to the 88 lakh farmers whose loans below Rs 1 lakh have been waived by the state government.

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The UP budget under the new government is expected to be presented this month-end. The CM has instructed the state finance department that the loan waiver amount of Rs 36,500 crore should be provided to the banks soon after the state budget is passed with a provision for the same.

Also Read: Five Farmers Killed In Police Firing, Here's What Has Happened During Protests In MP So Far

Officials of UP government will also go door-to-door to distribute loan waiver certificates to the 86 lakh farmers as a reassurance to them. A committee headed by the district magistrate in each district will be formed to ensure each of the 86 lakh benefiting farmers is reached out to.

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The CM has been trying to impress upon farmers that his government is working for their benefit, including taking steps such as procuring wheat to the tune of 32.16 lakh metric tonnes this year, four times the procurement done last year.

Besides, he has said that Rs 22,190 crore of dues of sugarcane farmers have been cleared by his government in the past two months and there has been a record production of sugar in the state.

Also Read: Three Killed In Police Firing On Protesting Farmers In Madhya Pradesh, Curfew Imposed