BHOPAL: Chief minister Kamal Nath on Tuesday vowed to end the Sahukari system — private money lenders who have a vice-like grip on the farm community in large parts of the state — and said that his government is trying to work out a way to give relief to farmers who have taken loans from sahukars.After launching the “Jai Kisan Rin Maafi Yojana” (agri loan waiver ) in Bhopal on Tuesday, with 14 farmers filling application forms in his presence, Nath said, “We are working on the issue of the loans from private money lenders and what action is to be taken.”Only loans taken from public-sector banks and cooperative banks are eligible for the waiver. Of the five farmers who committed suicide in the past month, it’s believed that two had taken loans from private money lenders. Thanking Mayawati for her concern over the Sahukar loans issue, Nath said, “I spoke with her in the morning to wish her on her birthday. We want to put an end to the tradition of Sahukari. Some people may not like it, but we will do it.”CM Nath said his government will consider Mayawati’s suggestion on “100% agri-loan waiver” — including those from private moneylenders. “I have assured her that I will take action on this issue. We have to work on how to end this tradition of sahukars,” he said.During his interaction with mediapersoms, the chief minister said, “People may talk about the importance of GDP, but at the end of the day, it is an agriculture-based economy in Madhya Pradesh . The grocer in rural areas, the transporter and just about every trade revolves around the farmers’ economy.”The Congress government’s plan for farmer uplift goes beyond loan waiver, he said. “There are other issues related to farmers. Now, children of farmers are educated and many of them do not want to stay back in agricultural fields. We have to create jobs for them. And I am already doing this “. Kamal Nath said that he has spoken with businessmen who promised investment in Madhya Pradesh. “I will soon tell the people about investments and jobs also. Investment comes with confidence in the government,” he said.Nath criticized BJP for “unnecessarily harping on budgetary provisions for loan waiver”. Without naming former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan , who had raised the issue, Nath said, “Those who talk about the budget do not understand it.”

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