Shillong, Oct 10: Independent MLA, Saleng A. Sangma on Tuesday complaint to Governor, Ganga Prasad against Congress-led government for implementing a financial inclusion scheme where farmers have to repay loan.
Saleng said that the scheme “Financial Inclusion for Women Folk” was introduced by the state government which aimed at easing livelihood of the poor farmers.
Saleng said that under the scheme, Rs 5,000 was given as seed money, and Rs 20,000 as loan component.
“Now most of the farmers are not aware about the loan that they have to repay to the bank that too with interest. All this has become a big problem for our farmers who lack knowledge of banking and its system, and have no clarity of the said scheme. This has become a pain and big burden for poor farmers,” Saleng said.
Demanding waiving off the loan, the MLA said that the govenrment should direct the concrn banks to intimate and sensitise the farmers and other villagers about the banking procedures, rate of interest, deductions and other services.
“The government should consider waving off the loan component as a whole or atleast the interest acquired in it to ease out on the financial problems and bank harrassments being faced by them. This will help us avoid a situation where a farmer commits suicide due to similar reasons,” he said.