Odisha Govt asks Banks not to exert pressure on Farmers

Bhubaneswar, Oct 29: Following the declaration of the packages for drought affected farmers by Hon’ble Chief Minister, a high level meeting was held with the Bankers in secretariat conference hall today under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sri Gokul Chandra Pati.

The Development Commissioner Sri U.N. Behera and Additional Chief Secretary Finance Sri R. Balakrishnan  also participated in the discussion. The issues relating to crop loan in the area affected by drought like situation along with various measures taken by Govt to mitigate the situation were discussed in the meeting.

It has been decided in the meeting that cooperative and commercial banks will not exert any pressure on the farmers for repayment of  Khariff loans in the  affected blocks since the last date for repayment is March,2016.   Rabi loan will be advanced to the farmers without asking them to repay the Khariff loan.

It has also been decided that the District Level Technical Committees will be convened soon for reviewing and revising the scale of finance for different Rabi crops as loan to the farmers. Chief Secretary directed Principal Secretary Cooperation Sri Manoj Ahuja  present in the meeting,  to issue necessary instructions to all districts and cooperative banks.

The NABRAD and SLBC have also been requested to issue necessary guidelines to Lead Banks for convening District Level Bankers Committee Meeting to extend the measures required for mitigation of drought like situation in affected areas and advance of Rabi loan to farmers. Chief Secretary has directed Agriculture department to issue advisories for mixed crop and fodder cultivation as per availability of irrigation water and residual moisture which can sustain these crops in Rabi.

The meeting also decided that rescheduling of Khariff loan in all banks will be done after receipt of the crop cutting report. This year, crop cutting assessment will be done in 3 slabs viz. area affected by more than 33% crop loss, area affected by more than 50% crop loss and the area affected by more than 66% loss. Chief Secretary Sri Pati has directed cooperation department and SRC to issue the guidelines accordingly.

The representatives from NABRAD, SLBC, RBI, State Cooperative Bank along with other commercial banks participated in deliberations.