CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh announced on Monday the government will write off up to ₹2 lakh debt of each of its small and marginal farmers, a programme that he said would provide “double” the relief announced by Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Punjab has around 18.5 lakh farmers of which 10.25 lakh have less than 5 acres of land and are classified under small and marginal category.
8.5 lakh farmers in state owe a (crop) loan of ₹2 lakh and 1.75 lakh who owe more would also get a waiver of ₹2 lakh,” the CM announced on Monday.
By way of calculation, it would cost the state ₹20,500 crore.
“The road map for waiver and total funds required would be announced in tomorrow’s budget by (finance minister) Manpreet Badal,” the chief minister said.
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Source: Hindustan Times