Farmers' loan can be waived anytime now - Rajasthan government will set up debt relief commission

Rajasthan News: In the election year, the Rajasthan government is bringing a bill to woo the farmers. Preparation is on to get the Farmers Debt Relief Commission Bill passed by presenting it in the Vidhan Sabha on August 2. After the passage of this bill, the way will be cleared to form the Farmers Debt Relief Commission. After the formation of the commission, banks and any financial institution will not be able to create pressure for loan recovery in case of crop failure due to any reason. Farmers will be able to apply to this commission demanding loan waiver in case of crop failure.

Orders can be issued anytime from the commission to the government to waive off the loans of the farmers or help them.

Retired High Court judge will be the chairman

The State Farmers Debt Relief Commission will have 5 members including the chairman. Retired High Court judge will be the chairman.

Retired IAS, retired judge from district and sessions court, officer who has worked in banking sector and an agricultural exporter will be made members in the commission. An officer of the level of additional registrar of cooperative societies will be made its member secretary.

The tenure of the Farmers Debt Relief Commission will be of 3 years. The tenure of the chairman and members of the commission will also be of 3 years. The government will also be able to extend the term of the commission at its level and can remove any member.

The entire district can also be declared endangered

The Farmers Debt Relief Commission will have powers like a court. If the crop fails in any area and due to this the farmer is unable to repay the agricultural loan taken from the banks, then in such a situation the commission will have the right to declare that farmer and the area as distressed and order to give relief to him.

If the farmer applies for not being able to repay the loan or the commission itself understands that the condition is really bad, then it can declare him as a distressed farmer. Distressed farmer means he is not able to repay the loan due to crop failure. After being declared a distressed farmer, the bank will not be able to forcefully recover the loan from that farmer.

Commission will also talk to banks

After declaring the area as distressed, the commission will also have the power to decide the procedure for repayment of loans taken from banks on the basis of settlement.

Before taking any decision in favor of the farmers, the commission will also give an opportunity of hearing to the representatives of the banks. The commission will also be able to take decisions like re-scheduling the loan and reducing the interest.

The commission will also be able to give suggestions for fixing and simplifying the process regarding loans given to farmers.

In view of the condition of the farmers in distressed areas, the commission will also be able to recommend to the government to waive off the loans of the farmers in its report.

The decision of the commission cannot be challenged in the civil court. The Farmers' Debt Relief Commission has been given powers equal to that of a civil court. No decision of the Debt Relief Commission can be challenged in a civil court. The commission will be able to summon any officer or person.

Application for loan waiver to farmer

A farmer claiming relief from any debt under this law will file an application before the commission and after that the commission will take its decision.

The commission will hold meetings and hearings in the districts

The Farmers Debt Relief Commission will also hold field meetings from time to time. The Commission shall hold its meetings at such places as it deems necessary.

The representatives of the commission will go to the areas which are distressed and where the crops have been damaged, especially to know the farmers' side and to take stock of the situation.

It will be necessary for 3 out of 5 members to be present for the meeting of the Debt Waiver Commission. For the meetings to be held in the districts, the Commission will constitute a Bench consisting of 2 or more members and hold the meeting.

This commission will also be able to issue orders regarding re-scheduling and loan waiver of farmers loans taken from Centralized Banks and Commercial Banks. In this, to convert the short term loan into mid term or long term, it will also be able to issue re-schedule order. In such a situation, the commission will also be able to recommend banks for interest waiver.

Banks will not be able to auction the property

If the Farmers' Debt Waiver Commission declares an area as a distressed area, then no bank or financial institution in such area will be able to take any action to recover the loan from the farmers by selling or confiscating their properties or auctioning them.

As long as the case remains pending with the commission, any kind of lawsuit, application, appeal and petitions against the farmer will be banned.