Crop Loan Waiver To Be On Basis Of Land Passbook: Revanth Reddy

Responding to the severe criticism from the opposition parties for "imposing restrictive rules for eligibility for crop loan waiver", especially linking ration cards to the waiver, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy today clarified that the waiver would be offered based on land passbooks.

Speaking at the Collectors' Conference held at the Secretariat, the CM said that the ration card provision had been made only to identify the farmers' families.

He also said that the process of waivers of crop loans of upto Rs 1 lakh would be completed by the evening of July 18.

"The money will be deposited into the farmers' loan accounts by the evening of July 18. On the same day, celebrations with the beneficiaries will be conducted at Rythu Vedikas across the State," he said.

"Ministers, MLAs, MLCs, MPs and other elected representatives will participate in the celebrations," he added.

The Chief Minister also gave clear instructions to the bankers to ensure that the loan waiver funds didn't go astray.

"Strict action will be taken against the bankers if they deposit the funds released by the State government for loan waiver into other accounts," the CM said.

The State government had on Monday released the guidelines for the crop loan waiver, and promised to complete the loan waiver process by August 15.