(a) whether the Government provides non-productive foan facilities to the small
and marginal farmers along with landless labourers;
(b) if so, the details of guidelines in this regard;
(c) if so, the amount of loans provided by public sector banks on this account as
on March 31, 2002; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND COMPANY AFFAIRS
(SHRI ANANDRAO VITHOBA ADSUL):
(a) and (b) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reported that a scheme for providing bank
credit to meet the consumption needs of the poorer sections of the society has been in
operation since 1976. The scheme is applicable to, amongst others, small and marginal
farmers. The aggregate finance presently available under the scheme for consumption
purposes is not to exceed Rs. 1000.00 per family per year with the further proviso that
the purpose-wise ceiling will not apply in cases where the loans are granted against the
security of gold/silver ornaments for which a ceiling limit of Rs. 2000.00 has been
stipulated per family. In addition, under the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY),
to meet the small consumption needs of weaker sections of society, a Risk fund for
consumption credit has been created by Government with 1% of SGSY funds at the district
level. The scheme is intended to enable commercial banks, cooperative banks and regional
rural banks to provide consumption loans, not exceeding Rs. 2000 per swarozgari from
weaker sections of the society. Under this scheme, risk fund assistance is to be provided
to banks to the extent of 10% of the total consumption loans disbursed by banks during
the year to the above groups.
(c) and (d) As reported by RBI, an amount of Rs. 68601.59 lakhs was outstanding as
on 31 March, 2001 in respect of consumption loans to the weaker sections under the pure
consumption credit scheme. The details of loans provided by banks for consumption loans
under SGSY is not being monitored separately and hence no data is available in this regard.