As per Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis there are 813 farmers in Mumbai and they all are likely to get a farmers loan waiver from the Maharashtra government. A shocking number that many say may have been falsely inflated
Mumbai, the city of dreams is one place where you will find a new meaning to the term space utilization. With people living in tiny homes, and every street jam packed with people, animals and vehicles, it is surprising to think that the city has farm land. So much so, as per a recent survey by the Maharastra government, there are 813 farmers in Mumbai. While this number includes a small percentage of tribal farmers, the number is still shocking.
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In a report by DNA India, these 813 farmers have been chosen by the Maharashtra government for a farm loan waiver. A financial plan, where the government hopes to reduce the burden of farmers, the Maharashtra government’s farm loan waiver is meant to help relieve the burden of debt of approximately 36.10 lakh farmers across the state. The government is likely to waive off about Rs 390 crores, which is a little over one percent of the 34,000 crore loan waiver package.
But what seems to be the real issue here, is the number of farmers in a city like Mumbai. In a statement Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he was surprised by the information and added, “But we will check all criteria, then only the farmers from Mumbai will get the benefit of the loan waiver scheme."
The State Congress spokesperson, Sachin Sawant, also scoffed at the numbers, saying, “"We wish to know which these farmers to whom the agriculture loan was given and subsequently waived off." He added that it is well-known that Mumbai has no agricultural land and that the farmers these waivers were being given to must be thoroughly vetted.
As per SS Sandhu, additional chief secretary, co-operation and marketing, said, “The proposed list of 36 lakh farmers for crop loan waiver up to Rs 1.5 lakh is provided by the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC). The list also shows around 813 farmers from Mumbai and Mumbai suburban districts. This is the preliminary list of prospective beneficiaries as compiled by the SLBC. The SLBC compiled the list on the basis of information provided by the concerned banks. However it is yet to be verified by the Government."
A senior official, who wished to remain anonymous said that these loans were given out by commercial banks and the therefore the data given out was also provided by the. He added, “These consist largely of term loans given for food and Agro-processing, floriculture, fisheries, dairy activities etc. Some of these also include the loans disbursed by the local banks to the people having their agriculture or other ventures outside the city limits. The government will verify that the benefit will be extended only to farmers and those who meet the criteria.”
Amidst all the confusion a BJP minister, who asked not to be named said that the fault laid with the CM. He said, “The statement of Chief Minister Fadnavis created the confusion on Tuesday. CM should not be in hurry to publish the district-wise beneficiaries' list on Tweeter…. He should get the proper brief from the concerned department officials, (and) then only share the information with the media.”
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