Hyderabad: The Telangana government on Thursday took a monumental step by releasing the first tranche of Rs 6,098 crore towards waiving farm loans up to Rs 1 lakh.
This landmark initiative is set to benefit over 10.8 lakh farmer families across the state, bringing much-needed relief to those burdened by agricultural debt.
The virtual event was held at the Dr. BR Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat, with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, cabinet ministers, and senior party leaders participating. Lakhs of farmers attended the event from 578 Rythu Vedikas scattered throughout the state, highlighting the widespread impact of this scheme.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy marked the day as the most memorable in his political career, emphasizing the significance of the government’s commitment to supporting farmers. He declared that he, along with his cabinet ministers, would soon travel to Delhi to personally invite Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for a grand public meeting. This event, anticipated to draw a crowd of 5 lakh farmers, will celebrate the implementation of the farm loan waiver and reaffirm the Congress party’s dedication to agrarian issues.
During the event, CM Revanth Reddy announced a massive public meeting, Krutagnyata Sabha, to be held at Warangal Arts College grounds towards the end of the month. This gathering aims to express gratitude to Rahul Gandhi for his unwavering support and for fulfilling his promise made on May 6, 2022, to waive crop loans up to Rs 2 lakh. The CM praised Gandhi’s steadfastness, contrasting it with the previous administration’s unfulfilled promises.
The interactive session that followed the announcement provided a platform for farmers to voice their concerns directly to the Chief Minister. Mahender, a farmer from Adilabad district, expressed his worries about irrigation, to which Revanth Reddy assured the construction of a dam at Tummudihatti, promising to irrigate the entire region. Another farmer, Seetaram, who owns 4.5 acres of land, shared his relief over the waiver of his Rs 78,000 loan. He explained how last year’s crop losses had left him anxious about financing the Kharif season, but the loan waiver had lifted that burden, enabling him to focus on farming operations. Mahender also mentioned his two daughters pursuing their education, highlighting how the waiver would help him support their studies without financial strain.
In his address, Revanth Reddy took a critical stance against the previous BRS government, accusing it of misleading farmers with unfulfilled promises in the 2014 and 2018 elections. He pointed out that the BRS government had waived only Rs 12,000 crore in its first term and a mere Rs 9,000 crore in its second term. This, he argued, had led to widespread disillusionment among farmers, many of whom had contemplated suicide due to the financial pressures. In stark contrast, the Congress government had delivered on its promise within eight months of coming to power, making Telangana a role model for the entire country in implementing the crop loan waiver.
Revanth Reddy also responded to a challenge by Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao, who had vowed to resign if the Congress government managed to implement the loan waiver promise. With a touch of sarcasm, Revanth said, “We know that you won’t resign,” highlighting the Congress’s ability to fulfill its commitments. He praised the Gandhi family’s legacy of keeping promises, contrasting it with the previous administration under former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
The CM reminisced about how UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had stood by her word during the 2004 general elections, promising and delivering a crop loan waiver. He also recalled her pivotal role in granting statehood to Telangana, despite numerous obstacles. This historical context underscored the Congress party’s long-standing commitment to agrarian welfare and regional development.
Furthermore, Revanth Reddy highlighted the financial challenges inherited from the previous administration. He noted that Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Bhatti Vikramarka was currently paying Rs 7,000 crore in monthly interest on the Rs 7 lakh crore debt accumulated during the BRS rule. He contrasted this with the state’s debt burden of Rs 6,500 crore when Telangana was formed in 2014, which is now almost equal to the monthly interest payments. Despite these challenges, the Congress government has prioritized fulfilling its promises to farmers, including spending Rs 29,000 crore on implementing five of its six guarantees since coming to power.
In conclusion, CM Revanth Reddy reiterated the Congress government’s commitment to waiving Rs 31,000 crore of farmers’ crop loans, reaffirming its dedication to transforming Telangana into a model state for agrarian reforms. The farm loan waiver event not only showcased the government’s immediate actions but also set the stage for continued support and development for the state’s farming community.
