THE Maharashtra Government’s recently announced Farm Loan Waiver Scheme is not a relief package for farmers but a scheme that traps them in a maze of harsh and impractical conditions, alleged Prakash Pohare, National President of the Kisan Brigade. He questioned whether the Government genuinely intends to waive farmers’ loans, saying that while grand announcements are being made, so many conditions have been imposed that a majority of farmers may ultimately remain excluded from the scheme. Pohare said that a farmer who repays his crop loan regularly should be considered a model citizen in the eyes of the Government. Instead, such honest farmers are being ignored the most. Whether a farmers crop loan is Rs 25,000, Rs 50,000, or even less, every farmer with a record of regular repayment should receive an incentive grant of Rs 2 lakh. He also demanded that farmers who have recently availed crop loans should be included in the loan waiver scheme.

 

He maintained that today’s debt-ridden farmer is not responsible for his condition; rather, flawed agricultural policies are to be blamed. He further criticised the mandatory ‘Farmer ID’ requirement imposed on the legal heirs of deceased loan defaulters, calling it inhumane. He demanded that this condition be withdrawn immediately and that all eligible legal heirs be granted the benefits of the Loan Waiver Scheme.

 

He urged the State Government to immediately simplify the eligibility criteria and remove unnecessary documentation barriers. He also demanded that all crop loan accounts, irrespective of their status or date of sanction, should be considered for inclusion, as agricultural distress does not follow administrative timelines. The Kisan Brigade leader warned that if the current approach continues, it will deepen mistrust between farmers and the administration. He appealed to the Government to treat agriculture as a livelihood rather than a financial liability, and to ensure that no genuine farmer is left out of the promised relief.