Loan waiver Bill may not work in Sikkim

GANGTOK, March 2: The recent bill passed on the loan waiver for the farmers in Parliament by Union finance minister Mr P Chidambaram, will not benefit the farmers of Sikkim.The Bill about Rs 50,000 crore agriculture relief package with a loan waiver for three crore farmers was passed by Union Finance Minister Mr P Chidambaram in the parliament recently. “But this passed bill would not benefit for the farmers of the state because of the drought and other natural calamities,” alleged state opposition party Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP). “Waiving one time loan of 25 per cent to the farmers which is estimated Rs. 10,000 crores is equally daring step to take care of the anxieties and the problem of the farmers” said Dr AD Subba, President, SHRP.“Presently there is no Central agriculture package or schemes for the cultivation of cardamom, ginger, maize and other cash crops like it used to be in eighties so it would not be benefit the farmers of the state” alleged Dr Subba. “By the time if state initiate this on 30 June or so the state government would than trigger for upcoming election” he added. n sns
The Statesman