Report and pics from Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD/SP)
Udupi, Jul 4: Under the union government's farm loan waiver scheme introduced in the budget by the finance minister in the current year, 9,375 farmers of the district will benefit by way of waiver of their agricultural loans totalling to Rs 15.24 crore. These agriculturists are eligible to avail of farm loans again, said Syndicate Bank deputy general manager Sujir Prabhakar, at the progress review meeting of banks held at the taluk panchayat auditorium, here on Friday July 4.
The lists of agriculturists whose agricultural loans are being waived, have been displayed in the respective branches. Such agriculturists are expected to make the best use of the loan waiver, as they are free to apply for further loans, in order to improve productivity in farming activities or to invest in modern agricultural machineries to achieve greater profits in agriculture, he explained, urging the farmers to make best use of the opportunity to their advantage.
A total of 3,983 eligible agriculturists who have borrowed Rs 7.95 crore from nationalized banks, 429 agriculturists who have borrowed Rs 1.20 crore from regional rural banks and 4,963 agriculturists who have borrowed Rs 6.09 crore from cooperative societies would be entitled for the waiver of the outstanding balance in their farmloans, he added.
The banks in the district for the year ended March 31, 2008 reached total business volume of Rs 8,210 crore, which includes deposit of Rs 5,516 crore and Rs 2,694 crore advances. Banks have achieved 135 per cent of the targetted loan disbursal of Rs 1,164 crore by advancing loan of Rs 1,567 crore. Out of this amount, Rs 370 crore was advanced to agriculture, Rs 219 crore to industry, Rs 357 crore to other priority sectors and Rs 621 crore to non-priority sector. The share of beneficiaries from among weaker section, scheduled tribes and scheduled caste under advances is Rs 254 crore, to minority community Rs 247 crore and Rs 53 crore to Self-Help Groups. Banks have also advanced loans to the tune of Rs 67 crore to 17,547 agriculturists through Kissan Credit Cards, Sujir Prabhakar informed.
Udupi MP Manorama Madhwaraj was present to witness the proceedings. ZP chief executive officer N H Prasanna Kumar presided over the programme. Reserve Bank of India manager C D Ravi Kumar, NABARD assistant general manager Praveenraj Udupa and zilla panchayat project director Nagesh Raikar were present at the occasion.
Lead Bank manager G Premanath compered the programme and proposed vote of thanks.