TRS Refutes BJP, Says 29 Lakh Farmers Got Loans

Telangana Agriculture Minister P Srinivas Reddy today denied the allegations of BJP leaders G Kishen Reddy and K Laxman that the State government was not disbursing new loans to farmers.

Responding to the charges of the BJP leaders that Telangana government had failed to implement the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bheema Yojana (PMFBY) scheme, at the Telangana Assembly question hour, Srinivas Reddy claimed that the government gave new loans to 22,050 farmers during the recent Kharif season.

He said that the State government was giving fresh loans to strengthen farming activities and ensure minimum support price for the produce. During Rabi and Kharif, as many as 29 lakh farmers were given government loans under the PMFBY, he said.

"For the welfare of the farmers, we are waiving off interests to those who pay the loan amount within one year. The scheme has some tough norms and deadlines for the payment of premium, and the State government has urged the Centre to relax those norms," Reddy added.