Let Us All Instill Confidence in Farmers: Pocharam

"All of us should instill confidence among the farmers, and stop them from taking extreme steps," Telangana Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy today said.

Speaking in the State Assembly at the completion of the two-day discussion on farmers' issues and suicides, Pocharam said that the government was taking all possible measures to stop suicides by farmers in the State.

He said that in the last year, Rs. 17,000 crores of crop loans had been waived. The government was now considering clearing all the rest of the promised crop loan waivers in one go.

He said that the crop loans of 36.25 lakh farmers had been waived off in the State so far. 25% of the promised crop loan waivers had already been waived, and the remaining 75% would be paid along with interest, he said.

He assured the farmers that the banks would not collect interest on loans, and that if any banks had already collected interests, the amounts would be credited to the farmers' accounts.

He said that letters had been sent to the farmers, with the signature of the Tehsildars. Letters had also been sent to farmers about their loan waivers.

Pocharam called upon every one to cooperate in the government's efforts to usher in a Bangaru Telangana. He said that all of the parties should send a message to the farmers that their interests would be taken care of and that there was no need for them to commit suicides.