List of loan-waiver beneficiaries out by June 20

  • 07/06/2008

  • Indian Express (Chandigarh)

Ambala - Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram visited the Chaur Mastpur branch of the Punjab National Bank, 17 km from Ambala, on Friday to get first-hand information of the implementation of the loan remission scheme. Chidambaram expressed satisfaction with the working of the bank officials. He also visited State Bank of Patiala branch at Shahabad. Later, while interacting with the media at the Kingfisher Tourist Complex, the Finance Minister said the list of beneficiaries will be finalised by June 20. He, however, said those who had still not applied for remission could approach the banks concerned to be included in the list of beneficiaries. He added that loans worth Rs 71,600 crore (due from 4.3 crore farmers) had been remitted. "Small and marginal farmers would benefit the most from the scheme,' he said. Praising the farmers of the twin states, Chidambaram said the farmers here were well-off and did not need the benefits of the scheme. Chidambaram added that it was his first visit to Punjab and Haryana and further planned to visit Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Orissa and West Bengal to check the implementation of the scheme. He said the Finance Ministry had provided detailed information about the scheme on its website. Anyone desirous of knowing about the scheme can visit the website, which is available in all Indian languages. Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee president Phool Chand Mullana, Managing Director of the Bank of Patiala A C Verma, PNB General Manager N C Jain and Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Shayin and SP K V Ramanna accompanied the minister during the visit.