Farmers press govt to pass debt relief bill
Sunday, 09/09/2012
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120909/punjab.htm#10
Sangrur : Farmer organisations have asked the SAD-BJP government to table the ‘Punjab Agriculture Debt Relief Bill -2006’ in the ensuing session of the Punjab Assembly. The bill could not be passed after it was drafted in 2006 due to alleged pressure from arhtiyas.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Sidhupur, Punjab Kisan Sabha (Taggar), Punjab Kisan Sabha (Sambar), and the Internationalist Democratic Party held a convention on ‘agriculture debt’ here today. The bill would make registration of money lenders mandatory; limit the interest charged per annum on the loan to 12 per cent and prohibit lenders from seizing their properties to recover debt.
Karnail Singh Jakhepal, state general secretary, IDP, if this bill was passed, then debt dispute redressal boards could be formed at the tehsil level. The boards would be able to settle debt disputes of up to Rs 30 lakh.
Major Singh Punnawal, district general secretary of Punjab Kisan Sabha (Taggar) said “wrong policies” pursued by successive governments were responsible for the pitiable condition of the farmers today.
Hardev Singh Sakrodi, state committee member of the BKU (Sidhupur), demanded that loans to farmers should be given at the rate of 4 per cent per annum and the prices of the crops should be linked to the price index.
