Harish Rao voiced his concerns about the new loan waiver guidelines introduced by the government.He criticized the guidelines for focusing more on bureaucratic filters than on providing genuine relief to farmers.
Harish Rao pointed out that the guidelines seem to prioritize stringent filters over actual relief for farmers. He questioned the reliance on ration cards to determine loan eligibility, arguing that this could disqualify many deserving farmers. He also took issue with the government’s decision to prioritize PM Kisan data, potentially excluding a significant number of farmers.
Rao criticized the requirement for ration card verification, stating that banks provided loans based on passbooks, not ration cards. He argued that linking ration cards and Aadhaar for loan waivers is unfair and could mislead farmers.
By using PM Kisan data, Harish Rao argued, the government could exclude many farmers who benefited from the Rythu Bandhu scheme. He highlighted that while 68.99 lakh farmers benefited under Rythu Bandhu, only 30.36 lakh benefited through PM Kisan, leaving 39 lakh farmers potentially without loan waivers.
Harish Rao criticized the conditions related to debt rescheduling, especially for farmers who have faced severe losses due to natural disasters. He stated that these farmers should not be punished for circumstances beyond their control.
He noted that the guidelines only cover short-term crop loans, excluding long-term crops such as sweet potato and mango plantations, affecting nearly ten lakh acres of crops.
Harish Rao emphasized that farmers who have paid their debts on time should also be eligible for loan waivers. These farmers, he said, deserve sympathy and respect.
He stressed the importance of including groups like Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in the loan waiver scheme. These groups represent small farmers who should not be left out.
Harish Rao criticized the absence of a clear starting date for the implementation of the loan waiver scheme. He noted that while there is an end date, the guidelines do not apply to loans taken before December 12, 2018, thereby excluding some farmers unfairly. He called this a gross injustice and urged the government to rectify it.
Rao pointed out that while the government promised to waive loans along with the original interest, it has not addressed who will bear the interest accrued during the eight months from the promise to its implementation. He demanded that the government cover this interest, as stated in the manifesto.
Harish Rao has stated that he would resign as MLA if the government fulfills its promise of implementing crop loan waivers for farmers, including all six guarantees outlined in the manifesto, by August 15.
Harish Rao highlighted that under the previous BRS government, ₹16,144 crores were waived for 35.31 lakh farmers in the first release. In the second release, ₹13,000 crores were waived for 22.98 lakh farmers, amounting to a total of ₹29,144 crores in two installments.
He expressed concern over the rising number of farmer suicides, noting that approximately 400 farmers have taken their own lives. Despite assurances from the CM that affected families would be compensated, there has been no response to the details sent. Harish Rao criticized the government’s failure to provide adequate support and assurance to farmers.
