The Telangana Congress government’s much-touted crop loan waiver program has concluded with unmet promises, leaving lakhs of farmers in financial distress. Despite initially pledging to waive Rs. 31,000 crore in agricultural loans, the government settled for waiving Rs. 20,616 crore, falling short by nearly Rs. 10,384 crore. Farmers with loans exceeding Rs. 2 lakhs feel abandoned as the government refrains from addressing their concerns.
In a media conference on Sunday, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced the completion of the loan waiver program. However, his silence on waiving loans over Rs. 2 lakhs has raised questions.
Earlier, the CM and his ministers assured farmers that Rs. 2 lakhs would be reimbursed if they cleared their higher loans with banks. This assurance was conspicuously absent during the recent announcement, sparking speculation that the government has quietly shelved this aspect of the scheme.
The government’s own figures reveal a stark gap between promises and delivery. Of the Rs. 31,000 crore pledged, only Rs. 20,616 crore have been waived, covering 25.35 lakh farmers. This leaves 16.65 lakh farmers awaiting relief. Critics question how the CM could declare the program complete when such a substantial amount remains unpaid.
According to the CM, discrepancies in initial calculations led to the reduced waiver amount. “The banks initially calculated Rs. 31,000 crore, including long-term loans, from 2014. When the government provided a specific format, the requirement was revised to Rs. 20,000 crore,” he explained. This explanation, however, has not satisfied the farming community.
The government claims it completed waiving loans under Rs. 2 lakhs by August 15. Yet, on August 30, the CM announced an additional tranche of Rs. 2,747 crores, benefiting 3.13 lakh farmers. This contradiction has fueled accusations that the government failed to meet its earlier deadline.
According to the government’s calculations, the loan waiver program was intended to benefit 42 lakh eligible farmers. However, only 25.35 lakh farmers have received relief so far, leaving 16.65 lakh farmers still awaiting waivers.
The total amount pledged under the scheme was Rs. 31,000 crore, but only Rs. 20,616 crore have been waived across four installments. This leaves Rs. 10,384 crore still pending, casting doubt on the government’s claim of having completed the loan waiver program. These discrepancies have added to the frustration of farmers, many of whom are grappling with unresolved financial burdens.
The government’s revised calculations and shifting deadlines have left many farmers disillusioned. Those with loans over Rs. 2 lakhs, who hoped for relief, feel betrayed. While the CM has declared the program a success, the ground reality paints a different picture.