“As per the promises made in our manifesto, we are committed to loan waivers for the farmers. The Pravin Pardeshi committee will submit the report by April, and by June 30, 2026, we will take a final call,” assured Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis while talking to mediapersons in Mumbai. Fadnavis said, “The committee constituted will study the aspects of loan waiver and long-term plans for the farmers. Loan waiver is one part, but we are also trying to have some action plan by which the farmers should become debt-free permanently.

 

The committee will draft loan waiver criteria and will suggest remedies for the future so that the farmers will be prevented from getting bankrupt.” “The committee will complete its work in April 2026, submit the report, and by June 30 we will take a final decision. We have decided on all phases and discussed the issues with all leaders, and they approved it. Meanwhile, we have started providingContd from page 1 them the financial assistance. Rs 8,500 crore have been released, of which Rs 6,000 crore have been deposited in the accounts of the farmers. A further Rs 11,000 crore will be released, and a provision of Rs 1,500 crore has been made. “During the code of conduct too, the assistance will be provided,” Fadnavis made it clear to mediapersons after holding a meeting on Thursday, attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, along with Chandrashekhar Bawankule and senior ministers and officials, to discuss farmers' demands.

 

Chandrashekhar Bawankule Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday said the State Government will definitely implement a farm loan waiver scheme but only after ensuring that it benefits genuine and eligible farmers. The Government does not want to announce a loan waiver scheme in a hasty manner, he said. Earlier this month, the State Government announced a compensation package of Rs 31,628 crore for farmers who suffered massive losses due to rains and floods during this year's monsoon. The opposition parties have been demanding a complete loan waiver for the affected farmers. Bawankule said, "The government is committed to introducing a crop loan waiver, but it will be designed in such a way that only real farmers who have taken loans for agricultural purposes will benefit. Those who have built farmhouses or large houses on their agricultural land and shown such loans as farm-related will not be eligible."

 

The government's objective is to bring in a fair and transparent scheme that supports only the cultivators who are facing distress, he said. "There are several farmers who are sincerely engaged in agriculture activities but have suffered losses due to external factors. We want to help and support such farmers," he said. Responding to the ongoing protests by former minister Bachchu Kadu, former MP Raju Shetty and others demanding immediate loan waivers, Bawankule said, "We invited them for meetings three times, but they refused to attend, saying there was no need for discussions. The government does not wish to announce a scheme hastily that ends up benefiting non-eligible persons." Bawankule added that even if the waiver is implemented a little later, the Government will bear the interest on crop loans during the interim period. "Whenever the loan waiver is introduced, the payment will go directly to the banks and not into farmers' hands. The debt burden on farmers' accounts will be cleared, but no cash will be given," he clarified.

 

The minister further said that all banks have been instructed not to recover loans forcibly from farmers and also not to adjust Government subsidies against outstanding loans. "If any bank uses subsidy funds to settle loans, strict action will be taken," he warned. Reaffirming the Government's intent, Bawankule said, "We will certainly implement the crop loan waiver as promised in our party manifesto. But right now, farmers also need immediate support in terms of cash flow and better access roads to their fields." He added. "There are 36 districts in Maharashtra, and identifying genuine farmers among registered ones is a massive task. We need time to ensure the right people benefit, while also looking into fertiliser supply and cash availability for the upcoming rabi season," Bawankule said.