Telangana Civil Supplies and Irrigation Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy recently praised the Telangana government’s ambitious agricultural loan waiver scheme, calling it a historic achievement in independent India. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, and Agriculture Minister Nageshwar Rao, the scheme has forgone a substantial amount of debt, making a significant impact on farmers across the state.
During a press conference at Jal Soudha, Uttam Kumar Reddy, joined by Minister Jupally Krishan Rao and MLC T Jeevan Reddy, outlined the details of the scheme. The government began waiving loans up to Rs 1 lakh on July 18, extended this to Rs 1.5 lakh by July 30, and finally, by August 15, covered loans up to Rs 2 lakh. Despite these efforts, some farmers faced issues with their loan waivers due to incomplete information on Aadhaar cards, ration cards, or passbooks. The Congress party’s official release noted that these issues were being addressed.
Uttam Kumar Reddy reassured farmers that the government was committed to resolving discrepancies and ensuring all eligible loans were waived. He highlighted that 1.2 lakh farmers had incorrect Aadhaar numbers and 1.61 lakh had mismatches between Aadhaar and bank account names. Each mandal’s Agriculture Officer has been directed to rectify these errors, ensuring that no farmer is left out. Additionally, 4.83 lakh farmers without ration cards are being visited by officers to collect their details for inclusion in the waiver scheme.
For loans exceeding Rs 2 lakh, such as a farmer’s Rs 2.15 lakh loan, the government will cover Rs 2 lakh, leaving the farmer responsible for the remaining Rs 15,000. Over the past 7-8 months, the Congress government has written off Rs 18,000 crore in agricultural loans, a stark contrast to the BRS government’s minimal waivers which largely covered interest rather than the principal amounts.
Uttam Kumar Reddy criticized the BRS government for its inaction during its first five years and its insufficient efforts in the second term. He also rebuked the BRS for spreading misinformation about the loan waiver scheme and accused the BJP-led central government of neglecting farmers’ issues. Despite promises to double farmers’ incomes, the BJP has not implemented significant measures, whereas the Congress government has taken bold steps with the loan waiver.
Furthermore, Uttam Kumar Reddy addressed concerns about crop insurance. He accused the BRS government of failing to provide insurance or compensation for crops damaged by unseasonal rains over its ten-year tenure. In contrast, the Congress government has introduced a crop insurance scheme and promised a Rs 500 bonus on fine paddy this season. They have also compensated farmers for losses due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms.
In summary, Uttam Kumar Reddy highlighted the Telangana government’s historic loan waiver scheme and criticized both the BRS and BJP for their shortcomings in addressing farmers’ needs. He urged farmers to ignore opposition propaganda and trust the Congress government’s commitment to their welfare.