Farmers Rap BRS at Outreach Event

Hyderabad: Taking a cue from the Opposition on holding the government to task, farmers in several villages left BRS leaders red-faced by confronting them about their failure to fulfil the RS 1 lakh loan waiver, as the 10-day farmer outreach programme of the state government kicked off on Monday.

They held the BRS government responsible for banks declaring nearly 20 lakh farmers ‘defaulters’ for non-payment of loans.

The waiver was a pre-poll promise made by the BRS in 2018.

The BRS’ 10-day farmer meetings are being organised to debate the merits of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s 24-hour free power by comparing it with TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy’s reported statement that three-hour supply to farmers was sufficient.

However, the plan to gain political mileage by targeting the Congress backfired.

Farmers in Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Medak and Khammam districts were especially riled up, as they stopped the MLAs from speaking, instead, first, asking them to state when the waivers would be implemented.

They complained of harassment from banks, warning them of legal action, and alleged that their loan outstanding amount doubled the principal due to accrued interest over the past five years.

Some farmers, whose accounts have been frozen by banks, rapped BRS leaders for failing to come to their help, stating that they were not even able to withdraw the Rythu Bandhu aid and money accrued through the sale of paddy at government procurement centres, as the banks adjusted the money towards crop loans.

Another major complaint was that farmers were not being able to avail of a loan, as banks had declared them ‘defaulters’ for non-payment of loans for the last five years.

Realising the gravity of the situation, the agriculture department on Monday held an emergency meeting on this issue and issued a press release, albeit without a signatory.

The press release stated: “It has not come to the notice of the agriculture department that the accounts of 20 lakh farmers are frozen. Despite this, instructions were issued to banks to sanction fresh loans to farmers and take up renewal of loan accounts. Instructions were issued to banks not to adjust Rythu Bandhu towards repayment of crop loans.”

The release further claimed that the government will waive off crop loans of all farmers up to Rs 1 lakh in phases, as promised in 2018, with a cut-off date of December 11, 2018.

“So far, crop loans amounting to Rs 1,207 crore of 5,42,635 farmers were waived off. An amount of Rs 6,385 crore was sanctioned for crop loan waiver in Budget 2023-24. The amount will be credited to the bank accounts of farmers soon,” the release stated.