Shinde warns lenders harassing farmers: those who drive them to suicide will face murder cases

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has issued a clear warning to micro-finance companies, private moneylenders and banks that coercion and harassment of farmers in the name of loan recovery will not be tolerated. He said strict action would be taken against anyone who torments farmers.

Shinde also said that if anyone is harassed into taking their own life, a murder case would be registered against those responsible and they would be sent to jail. He hinted sharply that they would be made to break stones in prison.

He was speaking at a Diwali ration distribution programme organised by the Shiv Sena at Harsul, a tribal-majority and remote area of Nashik district. On the occasion, 10,000 special Diwali ration kits, prepared on the initiative of Deputy Mayor Vilas Shinde, were distributed to tribal and farmer families.

Referring to the death of a farmer in Nanded, Shinde said the man was taken to a finance company's office and beaten, and lost his life as a result. Police have registered a murder case in the matter.

Shinde said banks, insurance companies, private moneylenders and micro-finance institutions should not pressure and harass farmers. He said the government has already banned coercive loan recovery. If anyone still visits a farmer's home to pressure or misbehave with them, he appealed to farmers and Shiv Sainiks to hand such people straight over to the police.

On the Ladki Bahin scheme, Shinde assured that the Chief Minister Ladki Bahin Yojana, which was launched while he was Chief Minister, would not be discontinued under any circumstances. He also said farmers would continue to receive an honorarium of Rs 12,000 a year on a regular basis, including Rs 6,000 from the state government.

Severe drought has hit 305 tehsils in the state. Standing crops in the fields have dried up. The Cabinet visited the fields itself to assess the situation before declaring a drought. Drought-affected farmers will be given all 12 concessions provided by the government. Immediate assistance of Rs 5,000 has also been announced.

Minister Dadaji Bhuse and local public representatives have been directed to set up farmer assistance centres in drought-hit areas immediately. Through these centres, crop loss surveys, distribution of government aid, tanker water supply and arrangements for cattle fodder will be monitored. Shinde also said that drought is making it hard for poor families to marry off their daughters, so a list of such families should be drawn up.