Uttam writes to CM demanding total waiver

Hyderabad, May 4 (INN): Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday demanded that the TRS Government waive off remaining dues of Rs. 1 lakh crop laon waiver scheme in a single instalment on immediate basis.

In an open letter to Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, Uttam Kumar Reddy reminded that the Chief Minister, on at least three occasions while speaking in Assembly, had assured to clear off the remaining dues if the Centre increases the State's FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) limit by additional 0.5%. On April 7, the Union Cabinet has given its nod for increase in Telangana's FRMB limit from 3% to 3.5%. This has facilitated the Telangana State to borrow additional Rs. 3,000 crore from financial institutions. "In view of increase in FRMB limit, the Government of Telangana should not delay the clearance of crop loan waiver dues any further and fulfil its promise its promise with immediate effect. This move would benefit 36,06,523 crop loan account holders across the Telangana State," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy reminded KCR that the TRS party, in its election manifesto, had promised waiver of crop loans up to Rs. 1 lakh. "Telangana farmers received a shock after you took a U-turn after coming to power. You split the payment into four instalments to keep the farmers tied-up with debts till 2017-18," he said. Of nearly, Rs. 17,000 Crore crop loan dues, the State Government has cleared two instalments of about Rs. 4,250 Crore each in 2014-15 and 2015-16. This year too, the State Government has earmarked a a similar amount only to clear the third instalment and it proposed to clear off all dues only by 2017-18.

"Farmers are desperately looking for help from all quarters, especially the State Government, in view of one of worst-ever drought they are facing. The State Government has already erred in handling the drought situation and has failed to judge the gravity of the situation," said Uttam Kumar Reddy.

The TPCC Chief said while the TRS Government failed to declare drought hit areas in 2014-15 causing heavy damage to the farmers in terms of Central relief, it failed to do a proper follow-up this year despite declaring 231 mandals as drought hit. "Your government did not respond to the Congress party's demand for declaring all 443 Rural Mandals as drought hit. Sir, 231 mandals were declared as drought hit on November 24, 2015. Since then, the situation has turned worst. Thousands of farmers, especially from Mahabubnagar, Ranga Reddy, Medak, Nizamabad and Adilabad districts have migrated to other places in search of livelihood. The scarcity of fodder and water forced the farmers to sell off their cattle. The improper implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in drought affected areas has faded out all hopes of life from the farmers, agricultural workers and their families," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also expressed concern over heavy decrease in agriculture production during Rabi season. "A huge shortage of food grains and vegetables is staring at our State due to drastic drop in agricultural production. The recent spate of heat wave, which claimed over 200 lives, has worsened the situation," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that there was an immediate need to re-instill confidence among farmers. "Met Department has predicted above normal rainfall during next monsoon. In order to make the farming community gear up to recover the losses that they have incurred in the last four seasons, the farmers must be given total freedom from debts. Therefore, instead of keeping them hooked up to their debts till 2017-18, they must be released immediately so as to enable them to prepare for the Khariff season with a new zeal and hope," he told KCR in his letter.

The TPCC Chief also pointed out the previous UPA regime had waived off farm loans of nearly Rs 72,000 crore of 4.30 crore farmers across the country in 2008 within a span of 100 days.