Farmers left out of loan waiver scheme go ballistic

GUNTUR: Bankers in different parts of the state on Thursday found themselves at the receiving end after the state government formally launched the loan waiver scheme. Farmers, whose names did not figure in the list of beneficiaries, staged protests outside many banks and confined officials demanding that the state government implement the scheme in toto.They also locked up revenue officials at some places demanding explanation for the denial of loan waiver benefit to a large chunk of the farming community.
Earlier in the day, AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched the loan waiver scheme at a ‘Rythu Sadikaraka Sadassu’ in Chittoor. As a token of the launch of the scheme, he handed over the copy of a cheque to a local farmer. Similar sadassus were held all over the state.
But elsewhere in the state, upset with the ‘faulty lists and missing names’, farmers locked up officials in banks in several places and staged dharnas. Farmers demanded immediate implementation of the loan waiver scheme without any conditions.
Managers of some banks skipped duties fearing protests. The protests were louder in Guntur and Prakasam districts. According to reports, farmers locked up officials at Nuzendla village panchayat office when they came to attend ‘raithu sadikaraka sadassu’. Farmers alleged large-scale irregularities in implementation of the loan waiver scheme.
Although officials pleaded with farmers that the government has given them time to update the list by adding more farmers, the protesters did not relent. Police had to rush to the spot to free the officials confined in a room in the panchayat office.
Farmers staged protest in front of the State Bank of India branch at Karumanchi village of Savalyapuram mandal. The farmers alleged that their names were left out of the beneficiary list due to irregularities by district cooperative central bank officials. The farmers threatened to continue the agitation till the central bank officials rectify the problem.
The SBI staff spent anxious moments following the protest. The bank sought police protection. Interestingly, both the villages are part of Vinukonda assembly constituency represented by district TDP president GVSSR Anjaneyulu. He spoke to the agitating farmers over phone and promised to include all eligible farmers in the list of beneficiaries.
In Prakasam district farmers staged angry protest near Union Bank of India branch at Annambhotlavaripalem village of Purchur mandal. The farmers prevented bank staff from entering the bank and locked up the main gate.
Bankers faced the heat of farmers at Konakanamitla village too. Farmers locked up bank staff. Local tehsildar Chandravathi reached the spot and assured the farmers that she will revise the list. Admitting that there are certain lapses in the list, the tehsildar said protests would not resolve the grievances of farmers. She said farmers should file their complaints for revision of the lists as the government has promised to extend the loan waiver programme to all the eligible people.