Bhubaneswar: The Cooperation Department as of now has no proposals under consideration to make farmers debt-free or full waiver of loans through one-time settlement, informed Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta.
In a written reply to a question by BJD MLA from Athgarh Ranendra Pratap Swain in Odisha Assembly, Cooperation Minister Bal Samanta said that arrears of loans provided by various banks to the farmers of the State for agriculture and allied works as on 31st March 2024 stand at Rs 79025.75 crore.
There is no proposal under consideration of the department to make the farming community debt-free and total loan waiver through one-time settlement, the Minister added.
Bal Samanta clarified that the decision for a one-time settlement is lies with the management of the concerned bank. Further, this decision is not within the purview of the Cooperation Department, he added.
He said that the Cooperation Department can only issue guidelines to Cooperative Banks and Cooperative Societies for one-time settlement and the final decision to implement one-time settlement as per the guideline lies with the managing committee of each Cooperative Bank or each Cooperative Society, he said.
Further, full waiver of agricultural loans is not within the purview of the Cooperation Department, the Minister pointed out.
