Crop Loan Waiver in Telangana 3rd List 2024: The Telangana government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, has successfully implemented the third and final phase of its ambitious crop loan waiver scheme. This phase, which was rolled out on August 15, 2024, aims to alleviate the financial burden on farmers by waiving loans up to ₹2 lakh. The initiative is part of the Congress party’s pre-election promise to make farmers debt-free and has been met with both praise and criticism.
Crop Loan Waiver in Telangana 3rd List 2024
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Crop Loan Waiver Scheme |
| State | Telangana |
| Launch Year | 2018 |
| Eligibility | Farmers with crop loans sanctioned or renewed on or after April 1, 2014, and outstanding as of December 11, 2018 |
| Loan Amount Covered | Up to ₹1 lakh |
| Types of Loans | Short-term production loans and crop loans against gold |
| Number of Beneficiaries | Over 40 lakh farmers |
| Total Amount Waived | ₹31,000 crore |
| First Tranche Release | ₹6,800 crore |
| First Tranche Beneficiaries | Approximately 11 lakh farmers |
| Chief Minister | K. Chandrashekar Rao |
| Implementing Department | Department of Agriculture, Government of Telangana |
| Number of Banks Involved | 42 |
| Number of Bank Branches | 3,351 |
| Number of Districts | 33 |
| Number of Mandals | 589 |
| Number of Clusters | 2,802 |
| Number of Villages | 12,920 |
| Phase 1 Completion | By the end of August 2024 |
| Loans Waived in Phase 1 | Loans under ₹1 lakh |
| Phase 2 Loans | Loans between ₹1 lakh and ₹1.5 lakh |
| Phase 2 Completion | By the end of August 2024 |
| Community Engagement | Celebrations in villages and Mandals, including bike rallies and events at Rythu Vedikas |
| Financial Hurdles | Overcoming scepticism from financial experts |
| Political Commitment | Assurance by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi |
| Vision | Making Telangana a national role model in agricultural policy |
Background and Objectives
The crop loan waiver scheme was a key promise made by the Congress party during the last assembly elections. The scheme’s primary objective is to provide financial relief to farmers who have been struggling with debt due to various factors, including poor crop yields, fluctuating market prices, and natural calamities. By waiving these loans, the government aims to rejuvenate the agricultural sector and ensure the economic stability of farmers.
Implementation Phases
The scheme was implemented in three phases:
- First Phase (July 18, 2024): The government credited ₹6,089.93 crore into the loan accounts of 11,50,000 farmers whose crop loan arrears were up to ₹1 lakh.
- Second Phase (July 30, 2024): An additional ₹6,190.01 crore was released to waive the crop loans up to ₹1.50 lakh for 6,40,000 farmers.
- Third Phase (August 15, 2024): The final phase saw the release of ₹5,644.24 crore, benefiting 4,46,000 farmers with loans up to ₹2 lakh.
In total, the scheme has relieved 22,37,000 farmers of their debt burden, amounting to approximately ₹18,000 crore.
Government’s Commitment
Addressing a public rally at Wyra in Khammam district, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy emphasized the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises. “We committed to waive off all crop loans up to ₹2 lakh by August 15. It was a promise made by our leader Rahul Gandhi to the farmers before the elections. Now, we have fulfilled our commitment by crediting around ₹18,000 crore into the loan accounts of farmers in 27 days in three phases,” he said.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the government’s efforts to support farmers beyond the loan waiver. He inaugurated the Sitaram lift irrigation project, aimed at drawing 70.40 TMC of water from the Godavari River to irrigate 6,74,000 acres in Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, and Mahabubabad districts.
- PM Kusum Beneficiary List 2024: Search State Wise List Here.
Mixed Reactions
While the loan waiver scheme has been lauded by many, it has also faced criticism. Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao expressed disappointment over the Congress government’s handling of the scheme. In a letter to Rahul Gandhi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rao claimed that the disbursement of the farm loan waiver was incomplete and that many eligible farmers were left out.
“Despite the Congress government initiating the loan waiver process, a significant number of eligible farmers across Telangana have been left out. The promise of waiving loans up to ₹2 lakh has not been fully realized, with the number of beneficiaries significantly lower than anticipated,” Rao stated.
Challenges and Future Prospects
The implementation of the crop loan waiver scheme has not been without challenges. Bureaucratic hurdles and discrepancies in the identification of eligible farmers have been major issues. Thousands of complaints have been lodged by farmers who were excluded from the waiver.
To address these concerns, the government has promised to allocate additional funds to cover loans exceeding ₹2 lakh in the coming days. This move is expected to further alleviate the financial burden on farmers and ensure that no eligible farmer is left out.
Telangana Crop Loan Waiver Status Check
To check the status of your crop loan waiver in Telangana, follow these steps:
- Visit the Official Website: Go to the Telangana Crop Loan Waiver Status Check website.
- Know Your Status: Click on the “Know Your Status” option on the homepage.
- Enter Aadhaar Number: Enter your Aadhaar number and click on the “Get OTP” option.
- OTP Verification: Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number to proceed.
Conclusion
The third phase of the crop loan waiver scheme marks a significant milestone in the Telangana government’s efforts to support the agricultural sector. While the scheme has provided much-needed relief to millions of farmers, it also highlights the complexities and challenges involved in implementing large-scale financial aid programs. As the government continues to address these challenges, the success of the crop loan waiver scheme will be closely watched by stakeholders across the state.
