Farmers in Telangana are protesting against the Congress government, demanding the implementation of a crop loan waiver. Despite the state government’s claims, many farmers are still awaiting the benefits of the loan waiver.
In Ponkal village of Mamada mandal in Nirmal district, farmers staged a protest in front of the Bank of Maharashtra on Monday. They expressed frustration over incomplete loan waivers, where only Rs. 60,000, Rs. 40,000, and Rs. 30,000 were waived for those with loans under Rs. 1 lakh. The protesting farmers demanded an explanation for the discrepancy.
Bank officials addressed the protesters, stating that the waivers were issued according to head office guidelines. They assured the farmers that any technical errors would be reviewed and resolved within three days.
One farmer, who borrowed over Rs. 70,000 from the SBI Jangaon branch, with interest raising the total to around Rs. 86,000, received a waiver of only Rs. 13,497 despite being entitled to Rs. 1 lakh. Upon inquiry, the agriculture officer referred him back to the bank. He noted that his previous loan had been fully waived.
In Ranga Reddy district, around 34,000 farmers had taken loans under Rs. 1 lakh from DCCB, but the government’s list included only 11,700 names, leaving 22,000 farmers feeling neglected. Farmers urged the government to fulfill the election promise of waiving Rs. 2 lakh loans for all farmers with a passbook, considering both spouses and independent sons.
In Bhadradri Kothagudem district, BRS leaders joined farmers in protesting at the Ganugapadu Society office in Chandrugonda Mandal. Vice MP Narukulla Satyanarayana highlighted disparities in loan waivers, with only 500 out of 2,500 farmers receiving waivers in Ganugapadu society, and 300 out of 1,800 in Gumpena society. He warned of further agitations if all farmers’ loans were not waived.