States plough on under yoke of farm loan waivers; farmers plan agitation

Rajasthan has been the slowest in processing farm loan waivers; out of allocated Rs 20 billion, the state is yet to process any claim

Political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, were quick to announce farm loan waivers for small and marginal farmers before state assembly elections over the past few years. However, after forming the government, the pace of processing these claims under various political parties leaves a lot to be desired.

Data accessed by Business Standard shows that progress on the ground in the three states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan has been dismal.

Take the case of Punjab. Before the state assembly elections in February 2017, the Congress party had promised to waive farm loans and