Crop loan waiver for up to ₹2 lakh completed, no plans for further extension: State govt in Assembly
The state government on Saturday informed the Assembly that it had successfully implemented the waiver scheme for farmers with crop loans of up to ₹2 lakh, and ruled out extension of the measure to those with higher outstanding amounts.
Hyderabad:The state government on Saturday informed the Assembly that it had successfully implemented the waiver scheme for farmers with crop loans of up to ₹2 lakh, and ruled out extension of the measure to those with higher outstanding amounts.
Replying to a debate on the demand for grants for his ministry, agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao said that the government had fulfilled its key electoral promise made during the 2023 Assembly elections by waiving crop loans up to ₹2 lakh. He stated that the government had released ₹21,000 crore to benefit 25 lakh farmers across the state.
The minister’s statement drew sharp criticism from the BRS and BJP, who accused the government of deceiving farmers. Opposition legislators alleged that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and other ministers had previously assured that farmers with higher loans would receive waiver of `2 lakh if they cleared the excess amount.
They claimed that lakhs of farmers, trusting these assurances, had repaid the excess amount, only to be denied the waiver. In protest, BRS members staged a walkout from the House.
Meanwhile, minister Ponnam Prabhakar, during his reply to the demand for grants for the transport department, highlighted the surge in passenger numbers following the implementation of the Mahalakshmi free bus travel scheme for women. He said the daily average passenger count in TSRTC buses had increased from 45 lakh to 60 lakh. To address the rising demand, TSRTC procured 1,000 new buses during 2024-25, he added.
Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, in his response on the demand for Grants for the health, medical and family welfare department, said the Congress government has been committed to making education and healthcare accessible for all. He noted that the Rajiv Aarogyasri health insurance scheme, originally launched with a ₹5 lakh coverage under the YSR regime, was enhanced to ₹10 lakh within 48 hours of the Congress assuming power on December 9, 2023.
The House passed the demands for grants for all three departments through a voice vote.
