Haryana farmers owe ₹60,060 crore in loans

Farmers in Haryana are facing a massive agricultural loan burden of ₹60,060 crore, affecting around 27.7 lakh farmers. This information was shared by the government during an assembly session in response to a question from INLD MLA Aditya Devilal. Sirsa district holds the highest debt, with farmers owing ₹6,102 crore. Hisar follows closely with ₹5,873 crore, while Karnal ranks third with ₹4,849 crore. Other districts with major loan amounts include Fatehabad, Kaithal, and Jind, all with debts above ₹3,900 crore. Ambala and Yamunanagar also have significant outstanding loans, totaling ₹2,716 crore and ₹2,766 crore, respectively. To help farmers, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini informed the assembly that crop loans up to ₹1.5 lakh are available through cooperative banks at an interest rate of 7%. The Haryana government pays 4% of this interest, making it easier for farmers to borrow and repay loans over time. Additionally, the government provides various incentives to farmers, such as ₹8,000 per acre for switching from paddy to alternative crops. Efforts are also being made to encourage farmers to adopt modern irrigation methods through subsidies. In another update, the Haryana government is taking steps to control unauthorized colonies in urban areas. Since 2015, it has identified 6,904 such colonies, demolished 3,937, and sent complaints against violators to the police. Moreover, Chief Minister Saini announced that all damaged roads in Haryana will be repaired within six months. This initiative aims to improve infrastructure for citizens. Lastly, the state has selected 561 new doctors to address the shortage in civil hospitals and is also working on improving medical equipment availability.