Date:02/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/02/stories/2008080251910300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Farmers seek waiver of jewel loan

Special Correspondent

VILLUPURAM: Farmers of Manalurpet in Thirukkoilur block have demanded waiver of jewel loans issued by the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks (PACB). They also staged a demonstration in front of the Manalurpet PACB on Thursday in support of their demand.

The farmers said the Centre had announced the loan waiver scheme for the farmers, with a cut off date of March 31, 2007, and based on the direction, State Bank of India and Thachampattu PACB in Thiruvannamalai district had written off their jewel loans.

The farmers said that they had raised jewel loans for cultivating paddy and groundnut. However, the official records said that the loans were obtained for raising commercial crops such as sugarcane and banana, and hence, loan waiver was denied.

They urged the authorities to set the records straight and extend the loan waiver to them.