Rajasthan Govt to Waive Debts of 50,000 Farmers, Protests End

The farmers agitating in Sikar district ended their protest after 13 days on Thursday.

Image used for representational purpose.

(Photo: Reuters) 

The Rajasthan government has reportedly decided to waive off the debts of around 50,000 farmers in the state. Following this call, the farmers in Sikar district ended their protest on Thursday.

Farmers had blocked several roads in Sikar demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Committee’s recommendations and crop loan waiver for the last 13 days. Their representatives and the government held talks on Wednesday to end the blockade.

Protests were also witnessed in parts of Bikaner and Sriganganagar districts.

Recently, the Rajasthan government had reduced interest rate by 0.50 percent on agriculture loan taken from central cooperative banks under the Sahkar Kisan Kalyan Yojna.

State Cooperative Minister Ajay Kilak said in a release that farmers paying back loans in time under the scheme will get loan at nine per cent interest rate. This scheme will be effective on loans disbursed till 31 March 2018.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)

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