States Have to Bear Farm Loan Waivers From Own Coffers: FM Jaitley

Uttar Pradesh was the first state to announce a whopping Rs 36,359 crore farm debt waiver for farmers.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. (Photo: PTI)

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said the union government will not partake in states' fiscal leverage in waiving farm loans, and made it clear that the cost has to be borne by the states.

The stance of the central government assumes significance against the backdrop of farm debt waiver announced by Maharashtra government on Sunday, even as the country has already witnessed violent protests from farmers in Madhya Pradesh last week, demanding a debt relief.

Uttar Pradesh was the first state to announce a whopping Rs 36,359 crore farm debt waiver for small and marginal farmers, in 2017.

Also Read: Fiscal Slippage Risk Has Risen With Farm Loan Waivers: RBI Guv

I have already made the position clear that states which want to go in for these kinds of schemes (farm loan waivers), will have to generate them from their own resources. Beyond that the central government has nothing more to say.

Arun Jaitley, Union Minister For Finance

Despite a bumper crop this rabi season, farmers in many states are in distress because of sharp fall in prices in both domestic and global market, which is resulting into an agitation like situation in the country.

Also Read: Farm Loan Waiver to Deal Crushing Blow to Tottering UP Economy

Reserve Bank Governor Urjit Patel has already warned of a likely fiscal situation to be going out of hands if states keep on doling out in such a manner, which may also stoke inflationary expectations.

The risk of fiscal slippages, which by and large can entail inflationary spillovers, has risen with the announcements of large farm loan waivers.

Reserve Bank of India

Reserve Bank keeps a close tab on retail inflation to decide on its monetary policy and manages the demand-supply math by tools such as repo rate – at which is lends to banks.

Also Read: Farm Loan Waivers to Touch 2% of GDP in Run-Up to 2019 Polls

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