(a) whether cases/reports of non-granting of agricultural loan to customers/farmers in
Jharkhand have come to the notice of Union Government during the current year;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE(SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL)
(a) to (c) : No specific report of refusal of agricultural loan to customers/farmers in
Jharkhand has come to the notice of the Government. All banks have robust internal grievance
redressal mechanism to address customer complaints including denial of agricultural loans
to the farmers. Various instructions have been issued to banks from time to time in this
regard. Any genuine grievance is attended to by the concerned bank.
Besides, the Government of India has taken the following steps to ensure increased
accessibility of credit by the farmers:-
# The Government of India (GoI) is providing interest subvention to Public Sector Banks,
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and Cooperative Banks on their own funds and concessional
refinance to Cooperative Banks and RRBs to ensure Short Term crop loans upto Rs.3 lakh to
farmers at interest rate of 7% per annum at the ground level.
# The flow of agricultural credit has tripled in the last four years from Rs.86,981
crore in 2003-04 to Rs.2,43,570 crore in 2007-08.
# Banks have simplified the procedure for documentation for agricultural loans.
# Loans upto Rs.50,000/- have been made collateral and margin free and the requirement
of ‘No Dues Certificate’ has been dispensed with.
# Banks have been advised to provide all eligible farmers with Kisan Credit Cards.
# Banks have been instructed to achieve financial outreach through provision of a General
Credit Card to households, to open “No Frills†accounts with limited overdraft facilities,
to extend financial outreach by utilizing services of Civil Society Organisation like Farmers
Clubs, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Post Offices as Business Facilitator/Business
Correspondent Model, etc.