Farmers ask Pranab to allay debt fears

Announcing Budget sops for farmers, the government extended the farm loan waiver by six more months. But many farmers complain they don't even qualify for the waiver.

Nanaka Singh is worried as his crops have failed for two years in a row. And delayed monsoon this year isn't giving him much hope.

This means he may have to sell his land to repay the Rs three lakh that he owes banks and the village money lender.

Last year, banks told him he didn't qualify for the farm loan waiver. He now wants to take a fresh loan to pay off his old debts.

"I can survive only if I avail fresh loan. I can pay back private money lender's money and other loans only if I get loan from the bank," Nanaka said.

But according to Darbara Singh, getting a bank loan isn't easy. He has been trying for a year now, but banks are not willing as he has defaulted on an earlier loan.

In the Budget, the Finance Minister has proposed short term loans at six per cent for those who repay on time. But farmers here want exceptions for defaulters as well, citing crop failure and their poor financial health.

"We are helpless, we don't even have money to feed our animals. With no rains we are not able to prepare our fields for cultivation. Yes I need money," Darbara said.

It's never easy for farmers to understand the technicalities of the Budget. Last year too, many farmers were wondering as to why they couldn't reap the benefits of loan waiver. This year they are not interested in Budget. What they want is government should bail them out of the vicious cycle of debt.