Times of India reports former chief minister and Rajasthan Congress leader Ashok Gehlot has slammed the Vasundhara Raje government for reducing the loan amounts as well as the targets of Mukhya Mantri Interest Free Crop Loans Scheme for farmers by 20%.
According to the Congress leader, the scheme provided marginal farmers with loans up to Rs 30,000. Reducing the paltry amount and cutting the target for cooperative banks under the scheme, the state government has only added to the hardships of drought struck farmers, Gehlot said.
Under the scheme, the farmers were exempted from paying interests if they repaid the loans by the due date.
The Congress leader has warned that the govt. move would expose poor farmers to the greed of traditional moneylenders.