Karnataka plans farm loan waiver to mark Rahul Gandhi’s visit
A detailed announcement would be made by chief minister Siddaramaiah before Rahul Gandhi leaves the state
Bengaluru: The Congress-led Karnataka government is likely to announce a waiver of interest on some farm loans, a one-time settlement of bank loans for farmers facing notice from banks and a relaxation in compensation criteria for the kin of farmers who committed suicide. The announcement, expected shortly, is to mark the visit of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who is touring distressed farmlands in Karnataka on Friday and Saturday.
After arriving at Bengaluru on Friday, Rahul Gandhi met with select leaders of the Congress to discuss the state’s agricultural crisis, before he left to meet the family of Lokesh, a farmer who committed suicide on Thursday in Mandya district, about 100km from Bengaluru.
The state is considering the suggestions discussed in the meeting, and a detailed announcement would be made by chief minister Siddaramaiah before Rahul Gandhi leaves the state, said Mahadeva Prasad, minister of co-operation in the Karnataka government. “Whatever the overdue the farmers have, if they repay the principal amount, we can waive off the interest, like a one-time settlement. And if any farmers has cooperative (banks) loans, that can be waived off," he said.
Rahul Gandhi, according to Prasad, also suggested increasing the compensation paid to families for farmer suicides. He mentioned that Telangana had increased the compensation amount from Rs1.5 lakh to Rs6 lakh last month.
Rahul Gandhi told reporters that he had discussed with the chief minister a policy to tackle the agricultural crisis in the state. “It will be announced soon," he said.
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