CHENNAI, Feb 5: Offering election sop, the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu has waived ₹12,110 crores loan taken from cooperative banks by 1.64 million farmers in the state.
The Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami made the announcement on the last day of the assembly session on Friday, expected to be the last sitting of the current House slated to go the polls in April-May.
The CM added that the scheme would come into immediate effect to reduce the burden on debt-ridden farmers who are currently affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, two cyclones in the state since November, and the monsoon.
“I am also a farmer, I’ve a lot of affection for farmers,” said Palaniswami. “It is my responsibility to help farmers to continue their work.” In 2017, the government had provided ₹2,247 crore as relief to drought affected farmers, he added.
The AIADMK government, which is in alliance with the BJP, has backed the three new farm laws. The DMK-led Opposition has criticised and questioned how Palaniswami as a farmer could support the bills. DMK president MK Stalin last month promised waiving of farm loans if his party was elected to power. The DMK has protested in support of the agitating farmers in Delhi and led a day-long hunger strike in December.
The DMK boycotted the entire assembly session which began on February 2.
(Manas Dasgupta)