Nagpur: Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday appealed to well-off farmers to opt out of the loan waiver scheme while warning banks against forceful recovery in drought-hit areas.“Well-off farmers should come forward voluntarily and stay out of the loan waiver. Similarly, those getting free foodgrain but can afford it should surrender their food security scheme benefits,” he said in Nagpur.“Around 8-10 lakh people across Maharashtra did not need food security. In Nagpur district alone, 60,000 people have given up free foodgrain,” he said, adding that the process of removing ineligible beneficiaries from the list had begun.On complaints of forceful loan recovery in Akola and Marathwada, Bawankule said collectors should take action against the banks concerned. “I will verify the complaints and discuss them with the collector concerned. Drought-hit farmers must not be subjected to such pressure,” he said.He said superintendents of police, collectors and district deputy registrars had been instructed to act against illegal moneylending. Collectors could also act against microfinance and finance companies accused of harassing farmers. “These firms should not make even a single call to a farmer to demand repayment,” he said.The state govt would also inform the chief secretary that banks, microfinance institutions and finance companies would not be allowed to pressure farmers for repayment, he added.On crop loans held up due to incomplete KYC formalities, Bawankule said gram sevaks, agriculture assistants and revenue officials had been assigned to visit gram panchayats and complete the process.Bawankule also said the second instalment under the Ahilyadevi Holkar scheme had begun reaching farmers.
