Baghel waives farmers' loan in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel kept his promise of waiving farmers' loans within 10 days of assuming office and, on Thursday, electronically transferred a sum of Rs 1,248 crore to cooperative societies of the state where short-term farm loans of up to Rs 5 lakh was waived.

Baghel even randomly called up farmers over telephone and confirmed if their loan had been waived or not as per the Congress government's electoral promise. The farmers thanked him in return.

The money was transferred to 1,276 cooperative societies and as many as 3.57 lakh farmers' loans were waived.

In a statement, Baghel said, “We have proved that we are committed to farm loan waiver. We have also fulfilled our promise within the stipulated time-frame of 10 days,” he said.

Baghel took oath on December 17 and hours later ordered loan waiver. As per his instruction, short-term loans of Rs 6,230 crore availed by around 16.65 lakh farmers would be waived.

Initially, loans from cooperative banks and Primary Agriculture Credit Cooperative Societies of around 15 lakh farmers, who have taken loans till November 30, 2018, would be waived. This would cost the exchequer Rs 5,170 crore.