Slammed by Oppn, govt agrees to debate farm loan waiver scheme

In the wake of CAG report on farm loan waiver, members in Lok Sabha today demanded stern action against swindlers in the Rs 52,000 crore scheme, prompting the government to agree to a full-fledged discussion.
Members, cutting across party lines, lambasted the government for failing to properly implement the programme.
Responding to a brief debate, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said, "I share the sentiments of the members. It is not only a matter of grave concern but it is a matter of shame."
Speaker Meira Kumar said the members should give notice so that a detailed discussion could take place on this important matter.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj referred to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on the farm debt waiver scheme and said thousands of actual beneficiaries were denied its benefits, while those who were not eligible got the relief.
Demanding that officials of banks and auditors should be questioned and FIRs filed, she said the RBI had also convened a meeting of banks in January and given them time to rectify the mistakes, "but no action was taken."
Swaraj also sought a structured discussion in the House on the "very serious matter".
The CAG report, tabled in Parliament yesterday, said the guidelines for implementation of the scheme were violated with a private schedule commercial bank shown to have received reimbursement for loan of Rs 164 crore extended to Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs). It also noted prima facie evidence of tampering, over writing and alteration of records.