1,100 complaints about agri credit forwarded to banks

The government today said it received about 1,100 complaints from farmers regarding agricultural credit and related matters during 2009 and all were forwarded to concerned banks for immediate redressal.

"The majority of complaints related to implementation of Agricultural Debt Waiver Relief Scheme and Kisan Credit Card issues. These were immediately forwarded to concerned banks for redressal under a suitable mechanism," Namo Narain Meena, Minister of State for Finance said in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

The minister, however, assured the House that no farmer was denied credit. The targets of disbursement of credits have been achieved during the last three years.

Some members complained that banks were harassing farmers who had availed debt waiver relief scheme announced by the government.

About the nature of complaints, Meena said most of them are handled by concerned banks and the ministry also follows some of the serious ones and if required further enquiry is done to resolve the issues.

"The banks have reported that the complaints received are being attended to promptly in line with instructions of the government and the Reserve Bank of India," he said.