The Hindu : Waive drought-hit farmers' loans: Jakhar

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Thursday, Sep 05, 2002

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Waive drought-hit farmers' loans: Jakhar

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI SEPT. 4. The former Union Agriculture Minister and Chairman of the All-India Congress Committee (Kisan and Khet Mazdoor), Balram Jakhar, has urged the Government to waive drought-hit farmers' loans, which according to him, amounted to Rs. 6000 to 7000 crores, much below the bailout package being given to the UTI and proposed for the IDBI.

In a statement, Mr. Jakhar said by providing a bailout package of Rs. 14,000 crores to the ailing UTI, the NDA Government had taken the right step — though belated — to safeguard the interests of the middle class people.

He said it must not be forgotten that till last year, it was the agriculture sector which had helped the GDP to grow at around six per cent annually. In the last six consecutive budgets, the Finance Minister had hailed farmers for rescuing the national economy from recession. But now, when the farmers were unable to fend for themselves due to drought, the Government was shirking its responsibility even in arranging funds for relief, leave alone waiving their loans.

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