The Tamil Nadu Government has set a target of providing Rs 5,500 crore as interest free loans to the farming community during the current financial year, Housing, Urban Development and Agriculture Minister R Vaithilingam said today.
"The target for this (financial) year is Rs 5,500 crore," Vaithilingam said in reply to a question raised by CPI (M) MLA A Laser in the Assembly today.
"Last year we have provided loans of about Rs 5,200 crore against the target of Rs 5,000 crore", he said.
On the funds allocated to the agriculture department, Vaithilingam said it grew more than three folds than what was allocated during the DMK regime.
"During the DMK period about Rs 7,900 crore was allocated to the agriculture department. But under the Amma (Chief Minister Jayalalithaa) regime it grew more than three fold to Rs 24,000 crore," he said amid thunderous applause from his colleagues.
Responding to remarks made by another CPI (M) MLA K Balakrishnan, Vaithilingam said there were no farmer suicides in Tamil Nadu.
Citing a report he said between 2009 and June 2015, there were no farmer suicides in the state.
About the status of Shale Gas project in delta region in Tamil Nadu, Vaithilingam clarified that government would not take steps that would be against the interest of the farmers.
Like the steps taken by the government in the past, including the Methane Project, Gail Gas pipeline projects, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa would not allow any projects to be taken up that would harm the welfare of farmers,he said.
