The Government of Maharashtra today (21st December 2019) announced a loan waiver of upto Rs 2 Lakh for farmers, with a cut-off date of 30th September, 2019.
Uddhav Thackeray, Chief Minister of Maharashtra made the announcement in the Legislative Assembly on the last day of the winter session of the legislature.
Thackeray said, "Crop loans outstanding till 30th September 2019 will be waived by my government. The upper ceiling for the amount is Rs. 2 Lakh. The scheme will be known as Mahatma Jyotirao Phule loan waiver scheme". He added that besides this, a special scheme will be offered for the farmers who pay off their loans on time.
It must be noted that Uddhav Thackeray heads a coalition government of - Shiv Sena, NCP & Congress.
Jayant Patil, Finance Minister said that the waiver will be unconditional and details regarding the same would be communicated by the Chief Minister's office after some time.
On the other hand, the leader of Opposition party Devendra Fadnavis alleged that the government has not fulfilled its actual promise of full loan waiver. He said that the Sena-led government has failed to provide financial assistance of Rs 25,000 / hectare to farmers who faced huge losses because of unseasonal rainfall, a demand that Thackeray himself had made earlier before he became the Chief Minister.
