"The benefit of loan waivers at the national level should be applied to the small and marginal farmers in this state," West Bengal Finance minister Asim Dasgupta said after a meeting with a state-level Bankers' Committee at Writers' Buildings today.
Representatives of RBI, NABARD and nationalised banks attended the meeting. "We want that cowherds and fishermen also get the benefit of the loan waiver," Dasgupta said, adding that the exercise was initiated following a Central directive to the state government.
There are 90 per cent small and marginal farmers in the state. Those owning less than one hectare of land are marginal and those having betwen one and two hectares are considered small farmers. Those having land over two hectares, would have a one-time settlement.
The minister said that those who had taken loan between 1997 and 2007 would be entitled for loan waivers.
