27-04-2025
Farmers oppose Ajit Pawar's loan recovery proposal for Nashik district cooperative bank
Nashik: Farmers in Nashik, who are defaulters of the Nashik District Central Cooperative Bank, rejected the loan recovery proposal made by state finance minister Ajit Pawar. Instead, they demanded a complete loan waiver for marginal farmers and a complete interest waiver for others.
Arjun Borade, the district unit chief of the Shetkari Sanghatna, said the proposal made by Ajit Pawar, who is also the deputy chief minister, did not align with the farmers' demands. The farmers have formulated their proposal, which will be presented to govt. "We are keeping it very simple. Our demand is a complete loan waiver for marginal farmers and a complete interest waiver for all others who will settle their accounts," said Borade.
A meeting of the farmers was recently held, and it was attended by Kailas Borse, the state president of 938 Tribal Cooperative Societies, and others. "Marginal farmers should be given complete relief from loan and interest, while other farmers should be given the opportunity to clear their principal in 10 equal monthly instalments," said Borade.
Borade added the representatives were unanimous in their decision on dealing with govt against the backdrop of farmers being hit repeatedly by nature's vagaries and intervention by govt for its political advantage that deprived farmers of good market prices for the produce at opportune times.
Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, in a recent meeting with farmers' representatives and agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate in Mumbai, proposed that loans up to Rs 1 lakh would incur 2% interest, and up to Rs 5 lakh would have 3% interest. Loans up to Rs 10 lakh would be charged 4% interest, and loans beyond Rs 10 lakh would be charged 5% interest. "The proposal by the deputy CM is not in line with the assurances of interest and loan waivers that were promised to the farmers before the election and at several meetings held with the farmers. Therefore, farmers will stand by their demand," said Borade.
