CM offers relief to debt-ridden Andhra farmers

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy today unveiled a compensation package for families of debt-ridden farmers who had commi...

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy today unveiled a compensation package for families of debt-ridden farmers who had committed suicide to prevent the recurrence of such incidents while announcing financial tie-ups for time-bound completion of key irrigation projects.

Under the Rs 1.5 lakh package for each bereaved family, Rs 50,000 will be set aside for ‘‘one-time settlement’’ of debts, while Rs 1 lakh, will be deposited in a joint account in the name of the kin and local Mandal revenue officer, to help the affected family recover financially. Most of the measures figured in Congress manifesto for Assembly poll.

A four-member verification and certification committee will be set up in each district, comprising local revenue divisional officer, deputy superintendent of police, MLA and sarpanch, to study the reasons behind farmers’ suicide, Reddy said here.

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The proposed committee, after verifying individual cases, will hold meeting with the creditors, both financial institutions and private moneylenders, to ‘‘liquidate the loans’’ obtained by the farmer.

‘‘With an outer limit of Rs 50,000 in each case, the committee will be authorised to liquidate the loans by way of one-time settlement irrespective of the quantum of debt. Many institutions and even private moneylenders are in favour of such one-time settlement,’’ the Chief Minister said.