Date:06/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/06/stories/2008030652530300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Bankers to debate loan waiver

Staff Reporter

ADILABAD: Bankers have started to react to the massive crop loan waiver announced in the Union Budget considering the issue becoming a point of discussion during the 9th bi-annual conference of the AP Regional Rural Banks Employees Association (APRRBEA) being held here on March 15 and 16. APRRBEA general secretary S. Venkateswara Rao, Deccan Grameena Bank Officers’ Association president Ramana Murthy and general secretary K. Damodar Reddy and Ravikanth from the All India RRBEA said the waiver will certainly discriminate against those who are regular in repayment of crop loans. Moreover, the plethora of criteria for farmers to gain eligibility for waiver will only infuse confusion, they pointed out.

The conference will also discuss pressing issues like pensions to RRB employees etc.