Major relief for Maharashtra farmers: Fadnavis announces farmer loan waiver; to use CM relief fund

Maharashtra: The long-going ordeal of farmers is likely to end soon as the state Government has finally taken a call on waving off farmer loan by taking funds from Chief Minister Relief Fund.   Ever since the question of waving off farmers’ loan has been raised by the farmers of Maharashtra, only one question had been dominating the argument that from where would money for loan waiver would come? But, state Government has issued a Government order and has explained the solution for the same. The state government has explained the reason for withdrawing the money from CM relief fund, where till date money could be withdrawn only for ten particular reasons. But, farmers’ loan waiver has been added as an eleventh reason in the list. CM relief fund is usually used for the people who are distressed and poor; and has always been used for people who have been affected by draught, flood or an epidemic. Recently, Maharashtra Government had announced waiver of 34 thousand 22 Crore rupees of farmers’ loan. But, there were uncertainties about where would such a hefty amount come from; because the government also has a debt of 4 Lakh 13 thousand Crore. Fadnavis Government took another big step yesterday, and included those farmers in the list who took loan post 2008. Earlier, Government had announced waiver of loans of those who took loans between 2012 and 2016. Maharashtra government has come under relief as it had a lot of pressure from the opposition Shiv Sena who had threatened a protest if farmer loan was not waved off.