Expressing concern over the apathy of the nationalised banks towards the distribution of crop loan to the needy farmers, District Guardian Minister Sanjay Rathod today warned the branch managers of stringent action if they fail to achieve the targets within eight days.
"All the nationalised and loan distributing financial agencies have been given eight days ultimatum to achieve their pre-stipulated crop loan targets and the responsibility has been entrusted with the branch managers. If they fail to achieve their target within the stipulated time frame, action would follow against them," he said at a crop loan distribution progress review meet held at the Bachat Bhavan here today.
"The state government has set the loan target for the district at Rs 1,736 crore and in spite of the repeated requests and even warning, the Nationalised Bank could complete only less than 20 per cent of their targets so far which is not acceptable," Rathod said.
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Sitting MP Bhavana Gawali, Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavlamban Mission (VNSSM) chairman Kishor Tiwari, District Collector Sachindra Pratap Singh, among others were present on the occasion.
Rathod, who is the Maharashtra Minister of State for Revenue, asked the banks to put on display the list of eligible farmers for crop loan and the defaulters in their respective banks.
Over 58,000 farmers have not taken any crop loan from the nationalised banks so far though they are eligible for the same, he said, adding that all the eligible farmers should be given crop loan on the basis of government's guidelines.
Bhavana Gawali said that the crop loan distribution is not up to mark and the branch managers take it in a casual manner causing hardships to farmers.
"I have instructed the Branch Managers to expedite the crop loan restructuring and the sanction of fresh crop loan to all the eligible farmers in the district," she said.
Maharashtra government has set a target of disbursing Rs 53,282 crore worth crop loans to farmers in the state this season.
