Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today announced a Rs 3,750 crore package including a write off of Rs 712 crore overdue interest for drought hit Vidarbha that witnessed a spate of suicides by debt-ridden farmers.The package also includes rescheduling of Rs 1,296 crore agricultural credit over a period of 3-5 years with one year moratorium in the six drought affected areas of Vidarbha, the Prime Minister said after a two-day visit to the region that has witnessed 600 suicides in a year and 1,600 in the last six years.He said this package would be extended to other drought affected states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka.The government would also set up an expert group in the next few days to look into the problem of rural indebtedness in its totality, Singh said.The group is expected to submit its report with three months, he said, adding that based on the recommendations, the government will take effective measures to deal with the problems of farming community.The six districts are Amaravati, Akola, Washim, Buldhana, Yavatmal and Wardha.
