Harish Rao Criticizes New Loan Waiver Guidelines in Telangana
Former Minister and BRS MLA Harish Rao voiced his concerns about the new loan waiver guidelines introduced by the Telangana state government. He criticized the guidelines for focusing more on bureaucratic filters than on providing genuine relief to farmers.
Concerns Over Ration Cards and PM Kisan Data
In a press conference, Rao questioned the reliance on ration cards to determine loan eligibility, arguing that this could disqualify many deserving farmers. He also took issue with the government’s decision to prioritize PM Kisan data, potentially excluding a significant number of farmers.
Rao said, “The new loan waiver guidelines seem to prioritize stringent filters over actual relief for farmers.” He added, “It is deplorable that Congress, which had promised to waive off loans to all farmers in the elections, has now changed its word and based on PM Kisan’s data, it will waive only those farmers who have a ration card, and that too only one person in the family.”
Previous BRS Government’s Efforts
Rao highlighted that under the previous BRS government, Rs 16,144 crores were waived for 35.31 lakh farmers in the first release. In the second release, Rs 13,000 crores were waived for 22.98 lakh farmers, amounting to a total of Rs 29,144 crores in two installments.
Call for Re-evaluation
Harish Rao called for a re-evaluation of the loan waiver guidelines, urging the government to ensure that all farmers can benefit from the scheme, regardless of their circumstances. He emphasized the vital role of farmers in the economy and the need to provide them with necessary support during difficult times.
Doubts Revealed
Harish Rao -: Harish Rao is a politician in Telangana, a state in India. He is a member of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party and has served as a minister in the state government.
Loan Waiver -: A loan waiver means that the government forgives the loan taken by farmers, so they don’t have to pay it back. This is usually done to help farmers who are struggling financially.
Guidelines -: Guidelines are rules or instructions that tell people how to do something. In this case, they are rules about how the loan waiver will work.
Telangana -: Telangana is a state in the southern part of India. It was formed in 2014, separating from Andhra Pradesh.
Bureaucratic filters -: Bureaucratic filters are steps or checks done by government officials to make sure rules are followed. Sometimes, these can make processes slow and complicated.
Ration cards -: Ration cards are documents given by the government to families to buy food and other essentials at lower prices. They are often used to identify and help poor families.
PM Kisan -: PM Kisan is a government scheme in India where farmers get financial help directly into their bank accounts. PM stands for Prime Minister, and Kisan means farmer.
MLA -: MLA stands for Member of Legislative Assembly. An MLA is a person elected by people to represent them in the state government.
