Jagan urges AP bankers to sanction loans for schemes

Vijayawada: Appreciating bankers for ensuring no shortage of funds during Covid-19 times, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy advised them to be generous while sanctioning loans under several schemes for the benefit of beneficiaries.

Chairing the 212th state level bankers’ committee meeting held at his camp office here on Friday, the Chief Minister said that the government was according top priority for promotion of the farm sector as it is the backbone of the state’s economy.

He said that they were providing financial assistance of `13,500 each to farmers under YSR Rythu Bharosa and PM-Kisan scheme per annum. Besides, `7,500 was given at the beginning of the Kharif season in June, `4,000 at the beginning of the Rabi season in October and `2,000 during Sankranti. Such financial support would be sufficient for farmers having 1.15 acres or less, said the CM, adding that nearly 50 per cent of the total farmers in the state fall under such a category.

The state’s 10,641 Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) were of immense benefit to the farmers to get quality seeds, fertiliser and pesticides within 48 hours after placing orders. Bankers should verify whether the farmers had an e-crop certificate before sanctioning farm loans to them and not practice graft in the sanctioning of loans.

On loans sanctioned during the Kharif season, CM Reddy said that out of targeted sanction of `75,237 crore in 2020-21, an amount of `62,650 crore was sanctioned, fulfilling 83.27 per cent of targeted sanction and appreciated the bankers for sanctioning loans even during the Covid-19 crisis.

Seeking support from bankers for Nadu-Nedu programme in government schools and hospitals, the CM said that the government was going to spend Rs 4,000 crore in phase-1, Rs 4,500 crore in phase-II and Rs 3,500 crore in phase-III in 15,715 schools in two phases to provide 10 facilities.

With regard to hospitals, Reddy said that they were going to spend Rs 13,000 crore in the coming three years to set up 16 teaching hospitals in the state.

Announcing the launch of a welfare scheme called Jagananna Thodu for the benefit of petty traders in November, he asked bankers to extend support to implement YSR Cheyutha programme to benefit 25 lakh women on set-up units to help them gain financial self-sustenance.

On micro, small and medium enterprises, Reddy said that the government had cleared pending dues worth of  Rs1,100 crore in the form of concessions to several units and opined that this helped the MSMEs to invest money to revive them during Covid-19 times.

On the YSR Asara scheme, Reddy asked the bankers to extend their support by sanctioning loans to self-help group women. In response to Reddy’s pleas, the bankers assured support for the implementation of the several schemes in the state.