WB govt to expand Kisan Credit Card among farmers

The West Bengal government will take up a special drive to expand the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) cover among farmers, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday.

Talking to newsmen here after meeting representatives of Nabard and State-Level Bankers' Committee, Banerjee said Rs 11,535 crore of the state's entitlement of Rs 33,000 crore under KCC had been disbursed and the drive was aimed at disbursing the remaining Rs 21,465 crore. At present 30 per cent of land-owning farmers and 3 per cent of 'bargadars' were covered under KCC, she said. KCC has a credit limit of Rs 50,000 for individual farmers and carries an interest rate of 7 per cent. Timely payment entitles the debtor to a 3 per cent rebate.