The Hindu : Sonia seeks succour to cane growers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 25, 2003

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Sonia seeks succour to cane growers

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JAN. 24. The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, today sought the Prime Minister's intervention in alleviating the misery of sugarcane farmers who have been "crippled financially'' by "mounting arrears'' which add up to about Rs. 11,000 crores.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, Ms. Gandhi urged him to find ways to ensure immediate payment of arrears and interest due to farmers by the industry.''

In view of the crisis situation, the Government should consider at least temporary waiver of Excise Duty and State Purchase Taxes on sugar.''

Taking up the cause of sugarcane growers of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Punjab, Ms. Gandhi noted that the total arrears due to the cane growers amount to Rs. 11,000 crores. And, to add to their plight, sugar mills were not purchasing the cane; forcing some of the farmers to commit suicide.

Ms. Gandhi also suggested that sugar be treated as a food item so that it would become possible for the Government to identify avenues to provide subsidy to the cane growers till the situation improved.

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