'Loan waiver has pulled me out of depression'

INDORE: Babulal Bherulal Rathore , a 72-year-old farmer from Ratlam , is beneficiary number 001 of Jai Kisan Fasal Rin Maafi Yojana , launched by chief minister Kamal Nath on Friday.


Rathore was the first to receive a certificate from the CM, showing payment of Rs

1.95 lakh as his agricultural loan waiver .

“This is the best thing the government has done,” said Babulal, who lost the last two crops and failed to get the right price for his produce, pushing him into a debt trap.

Babulal was among eight farmers who received certificates of loan waiver from CM Kamal Nath. The Congress turned the tables on BJP in the last elections by wooing masses through loan waiver scheme and promise of employment — two promises that Kamal Nath reiterated at the function organized in Namli town as ‘fulfilled’ by his party.

The function marked the distribution of benefits to farmers, who hailed the decision. A father of two sons and a daughter, Babulal was overwhelmed at getting the certificate. “This financial help has pulled me out of depression and filled me and my sons with new vigour to till our farmland,” he said.

Under the first phase of the loan waiver compensation distribution, the state government plans to benefit over 2.25 lakh farmers.

“It is the biggest challenge of our government to develop the farm sector for welfare of farmers. Till our farmers are strong, we will not be strong. The government will explore all possible means for progress of farmers,” Nath said.