(a) whether the Union Government have taken any steps to provide loans to agriculturists, handicapped and poor persons belonging to below poverty line families from the banks/ financial institutions;
(b) if so, the criteria fixed for giving loan to these persons; and
(c) the tirne by which these loans are likely to be released?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL)
(a) and (b): Yes, Sir. A number of schemes have been launched and are being implemented by banks
for the benefit of agriculturists including families below poverty line and handicapped persons.
Some of the prominent centrally sponsored schemes are:-
(i) Swama Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY);
(ii) Swama Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY);
(iii) Prime Minister`s Rozgar Yojana(PMRY);
(iv) Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers (SLRS); and
(v) Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme.
Under the SGSY Scheme loans are issued for individual swarozgaries and Self-Help Groups(SHGs).
Fifty percent of loan is earmarked for SC/STs beneficiaries, forty percent for women and three
percent for physically handicapped persons. In addition to the above, banks are also extending
loans for purchase of land for agricultural/allied activities to small/marginal farmers, share
croppers and tenant farmers. Bank finance is also available for Self Help Groups (SHGs) based
on their internal generated savings. Further, the Government had announced a package of relief
measures on 18th June, 2004 which includes debt relief to farmers in distress/arrears, One-Time
Settlement Scheme, etc.
The loans are extended to all eligible persons based on activities being undertaken/projects to
be taken up by them under the specific programmes. As regards Below Poverty Line (BPL) families,
the State agencies identify the families living below poverty line through Gram Sabhas as per
definition given by Government. Crop loans are extended to agriculturists without collateral/
margin money, for loan amount upto Rs.50,000/-
(c) : The loans are being released by the banks on an ongoing basis, based on the cropping
season/ time of investment, targets fixed and applications sponsored by the concerned
developmental agency of the State Government. In respect of Centrally Sponsored Schemes like
SGSY, as per the guidelines issued by RBI, applications are to be disposed of within 15 days
from the date of receipt. Similarly, applications under other schem.es are also to be disposed
of within the stipulated time frame and reasons are to be recorded for rejection of applications.