(a) the State-wise, number of small farmers especially in the Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes dominated areas who have been provided loans by the Regional
Rural Banks for installing tubewells during the last three years; and
(b) the State-wise amount of loan provided for the purpose?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI BALASAHEB VIKHE PATIL):
(a) National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) has reported that loans
for sinking tubewells are generally availed of by farmers having large holdings, while
small and marginal farmers normally avail of loans for other minor irrigation activities
such as dug wells and pumpsets. NABARD extends refinance support to Regional Rural Banks
(RRBs) against their lendings for minor irrigation purposes including tubewells, dug-wells,
pumpsets and other minor irrigation activities in favour of small and marginal farmers
constituting their target clientele group. As reported by NABARD the information in respect
of loans issued for all purposes including minor irrigation to small farmers for the year
1997-98 to 1999-2000 and loans outstanding there against is given in the statement-I.
NABARD has further reported that disaggregated data in the manner sought for particularly
regarding Scheduled Caste (SC) Scheduled Tribes (ST) beneficiaries under the category of
small and marginal farmers, is not available with them.
(b) The State-wise amount of refinance under minor irrigation activities through RRBs for
the last three years is given in the statement-II.