Farmers stage protest against denial of loan waiver

Farmers of Venkatapur in Siddipet rural mandal staged a protest on the premises of the Siddipet Collectorate after they were prevented from entering the Collectorate to submit a representation on the denial of the promised crop loan waiver to them. The police denied entry to farmers into the Collectorate informing that Collector M Manu Chowdary, Additional Collectors and other officials were not present in the weekly grievance cell.

Nearly 100 farmers from the village arrived at the Collectorate carrying their bank passbook, pattadar passbook and other documents. One of the farmers, Yellam, said they were roaming around banks and revenue offices seeking the



release of the loan waiver for them. Another farmer Bandi Srikanth said there was no response from the district administration though they were running from pillar to post every day. He said the restrictions imposed by the State government on the loan waiver had deprived many of the promised relief, apart from disabling them from securing fresh loans.

Srikanth lamented that nearly 60 farmers, who had than loans of less than Rs.2 lakh did not get the loan waiver. Another farmer said the farmers, who had borrowed more than Rs.2 lakh, paid back the additional amount by borrowing from private lenders at high interest rates, but they were yet to get the waiver benefit.