PTI, BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today requested the Central government for 50 per cent support to his government’s farm loan waiver scheme. “Debt of farmers is staring us in the face. My government is ready to address this problem and I request the Government of India to support us,” he said.
In his address at the 4th meeting of the NITI Ayog governing council in New Delhi, a copy of which was shared with the media here, the chief minister said in Karnataka about 85 lakh farmers have outstanding debts on account of agricultural loans from banks.
He said, “Due to recurring droughts, the distress of the farmers is even more severe. I request the Government of India to provide 50 per cent support for our loan waiver initiative.”
Kumaraswamy is under intense pressure to announce the farm loan waiver that his party, the JD(S) had promised in the run-up to the assembly elections in Karnataka.
After initially citing coalition compulsions for the delay, the chief minister on May 30 amid the opposition and farmers’ bodies stepped up pressure on him to fulfill his pre-poll promise, had said his government would arrive at a decision to implement a two-phase scheme for farm loan waiver within 15 days. With the 15-day deadline coming to an end on June 15, Kumaraswamy reiterated that he was committed to waiving the farm loan and would announce it shortly.
