Asking the Bankers to work as part of the Government, the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has said that the farmers will get the loans for the Kharif season if they paid at least the original loan amount taken earlier, and added the government will pay the interest to the banks. He said that the government has fixed a loan target of Rs.53,000 crore to the farmers this year.
Addressing the 178th meeting of State Level Banking Committee at Jubilee Hall here on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that the government has sanctioned Rs.1812 Crores, but the banks disbursed only Rs.1068 crores as of now. The banks have been stating that the farmers not opening accounts was the reason for the shortfall. The Chief Minister said that in agency areas like Paderu there were no banks to enable the farmers to open the accounts. He asked the bankers to open branches in such areas. He said that giving loans to the Khareef season has begun. The government has fixed a target of Rs.2000 crore loans to the farmers. The bankers have to disburse the amount.
He said that the government has increased the loan limit from 10 to 15 percent and the bankers have to implement the same. The Chief Minister has asked the bankers to give loans to those who have Kisan Credit Cards. He said that the government has put the target of Rs.13,100 crores to women–Rs.11,600crores to SGH Loans plus Rs. 1500 crores to Sree Nidhi– and the bankers have to fulfill it. He said that the government was contemplating to bring changes in the SC/ST sub-plan to help the SCs and STs to start their own businesses. He also said that the government was contemplating to revise the SC/ST Finance Corporations to extend maximum help to the beneficiaries.
Asking the bankers to open more branches in rural areas, the Chief Minister has said that the government lagged behind in giving loans to the Small Scale industries last year. “This year we have to correct it by giving more loans to the Small Scale industries”, he said.
He said that the government had allotted Rs.700 crore to improve the skills of the youth under the Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu scheme. He said that the banks have to work with the spirit of ‘nationalization banks’ to reach the targets.
Agriculture Minister Kanna Laxminarayana has said that the government has faced criticism in issuing the loans to the farmers who have Loan Eligibility Cards’. He asked the bankers to extend the reschedule time of loan beneficiaries up to August 31.
He urged the bankers not to collect Rs.150 for giving no objection certificate to the farmers. He asked the bankers to give zero deposit accounts (no-frills account) and said that it was not correct to the bankers to collect Rs.500 to Rs.1500 to open the bank account of the farmers. He said that the bankers have to educate the farmers on giving interest free loans from 2011 Rabi season. He said that the farmers will pay the interest, but the government will reimburse the same interest to the farmers. He said that the Agriculture department will supply the posters in this regard and the bankers have to display them in the banks. (NSS)