Madhya Pradesh Opposition Leader Appeals to CM Yadav for Farmers’ Loan Extension
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bhopal, March 24 (NationPress) The Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh, Umang Singhar, addressed a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday, shedding light on the significant challenges confronting farmers in the region and calling for urgent measures.
In his correspondence, Singhar urged the Chief Minister to set the wheat procurement price for farmers at Rs 3,000 per quintal and to extend the loan repayment deadline to April 30.
He pointed out that farmers in Madhya Pradesh are currently enduring a serious economic crisis, necessitating the state government to respond with empathetic and tangible actions.
The letter highlights that the wheat procurement operations in the state, managed by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and cooperative societies, are scheduled to commence on April 1, while the loan repayment deadline for farmers is set for March 31.
This situation places immense pressure on farmers to repay their loans even before they can sell their crops.
Singhar pointed out that the loan repayment deadline had previously been extended to April 30, allowing farmers sufficient time to liquidate their harvest and use the proceeds to settle their debts.
However, last year, this deadline was reverted to March 31, leading to many farmers being unable to repay their loans on time and being labeled as defaulters.
Singhar is advocating for the government to permanently restore the April 30 deadline for loan repayments, replacing the existing March 31 date.
Additionally, he is calling for relief measures, such as loan waivers or special concessions, for those farmers who were declared defaulters solely due to this alteration in the repayment deadline.
“The Congress party will appeal to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to recognize the seriousness of the farmers’ situation and make swift, appropriate decisions to provide them with essential relief,” he stated.
It is important to note that wheat procurement at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,625 per quintal (which includes a Rs 40 bonus over the Rs 2,585 MSP) will commence on April 1.