Govt working on war footing to implement loan waiver: minister

Cooperation Minister Subhash Deshmukh today assured the Maharashtra Legislative Council that the BJP-led state government was working on a "war footing" to implement the farm loan waiver scheme.

The government would ensure that no eligible beneficiary is left out, the minister said.

A toll-free number would be provided where farmers who have been left out of the scheme can lodge a complaint, he said.

Deshmukh was replying to questions on the ambitious Rs 34,000 crore farm loan waiver scheme from MLC Hemant Takle, Leader of Opposition in the Council Dhananjay Munde and others during the Question Hour.

While Munde alleged that thousands of farmers have been left out of the scheme, Takle asked why farmer suicides had not stopped if the loan waiver had such an impact as the government was claiming.

Haribhau Rathod alleged that only 18 per cent farmers got the benefit of loan waiver in Yavatmal district.

Meanwhile, Deshmukh also informed the House that dues of tur and channa farmers will be cleared in the next fifteen days.