The Punjab government today passed a Bill which provides for a framework for regulation and settlement of agricultural debts.
Moving 'Punjab Settlement of Agricultural Indebtedness Bill' on the floor of the House on the concluding day of Budget session, Agriculture Minister Tota Singh said the Bill aims to provide a forum for determination and expeditious settlement of debts of agriculturists and all other persons dependent upon agriculture with a view to alleviate their difficulties.
Noting that agricultural indebtedness has increased manifold, he said, "It is an outcome of the mismatch between the prices of agricultural inputs and minimum support prices of agricultural produce."
"Consequently, the livelihood of farmers and all other persons dependent on agriculture have been adversely affected," he added.
These persons raise loans from institutional and non-institutional resources, he said, adding that institutional loans were regulated through various special legislations governing the institutions providing such loans.
However, non institutional loans are largely unregulated with no easily accessible forum for remedy, he said.
"As per the Bill, the interest payable on the debt shall be calculated at such rate as may be notified by the government," he said, adding "the interest payable on the debt shall be simple interest calculated on yearly basis".
The government shall establish a District Agriculture Debt Settlement Forum at every district of the state to carry out the purposes of this Act within the territorial jurisdiction of such district, Singh said.
He added that the chairman of the Forum shall be a retired District and Sessions Judge or a retired Additional District and Sessions Judge.
Participating in discussion on the Bill, Leader of Opposition Charanjit Singh Channi (Congress) said there is a need to find out why farmers are falling in debt trap and committing suicides.
He said the rate of interest on loans taken by farmers from banks and commission agents must be fixed.
Channi also sought a package from the Centre to bail out peasantry from the debt trap in the state.
Sunil Kumar Jakhar of Congress urged political parties
cutting across party lines to approach the Centre to take steps to bail out farmers from debt trap.
"Earlier, the One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme of the government to settle debts, failed. We should come out with ways how farmers income can be made surplus," he said.
Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, who is an Akali Minister, said that with this Bill, the process to settle debts of farmers has been simplified.
Earlier, Minister Anil Joshi (BJP) had to withdraw the Bill introduced by him on setting up of physiotherapy council as Channi (Congress), Kuljeet Singh Nagra (Congress) and Virsa Singh Valtoha (SAD) opposed it.
The House also passed 'Punjab Gau Sewa Commission Bill' to ensure the protection accorded to cow under any law.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal told the Assembly that Punjab government is constructing cowsheds in all the districts of the state.
"These cow sheds are being constructed on areas varying between 25 acres to 100 acres," he said.
The House also passed 'Amritsar Walled City (Recognition of Usage) Bill' moved by Minister Anil Joshi (BJP) despite stiff opposition from his party colleague Manoranjan Kalia.
Kalia said the Bill should be re-considered as there is provision under it in which commercial establishments in the walled city will be regularised benefitting the "wrong doers."
"If you want to benefit those whose commercial establishments are within walled city then it should be done for entire Punjab," he said.
Besides, the House also passed other Bills including Punjab State Commission for Women (Amendment) Bill, Punjab Infrastructure (Development and Regulation Amendment) Bill, Punjab State Commission for Minorities (Amendment) Bill, Punjab Bovine Breeding Bill, Punjab Municipal (Amendment) Bill and Punjab Package Deal Properties (Disposal) Amendment Bill.
Later, the House was adjourned sine die after holding legislative business.
