Ryots agitate over denial of farm loans in Eluru

Eluru: Tenant farmers staged a dharna at Lingaraogudem in Eluru Rural mandal protesting against the attitude of bankers in denying them crop loans.

The farmers under the aegis of AP Koulu Rytu Sangham flashed loan eligibility identity cards and alleged that the government had miserably failed to implement acts which make tenant farmers eligible to get crop loans.

Speaking on the occasion, the sangham upland district secretary, K Srinivas alleged that the government was misguiding people by announcing that it had distributed crop loans to the tune of Rs 936 crore to tenant farmers in the district.

The service bank (Indian Bank) in Lingaraogudem was not issuing loans to the tenant farmers.

The bankers had been asking for permission of land owner for issue of loan that was against the law.

He demanded that the government issue a white paper on the crop loans given in the district.

It should take action against the bankers, if it was really concerned for the wellbeing of the tenant farmers, he demanded.

Meanwhile, the farmers under the banner of AP Rytu Sangham announced that they would be organising ‘Chalo Delhi’ programme seeking solution to problems faced by the famers on September 5.

Addressing the media in Eluru on Wednesday, the sangham leaders said that the farmers representing different crops would be leaving to Delhi in response to the call given by the All India Kisan Sabha.