Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, arrived at the state Assembly to present his fifth successive budget before the legislature on Friday, proposing a budget of Rs 1.89 lakh crore for the Fiscal Year 2024-25.
The chief minister announced the waiver of interest and penalties on those farmers who will deposit their loans by May 2024. This decision is likely to provide relief to many farmers who have been struggling with loan repayments.
The announcement comes amid the days-long farmer protests at several places along the Punjab-Haryana border which includes a demand for a waiver of farm loans.
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While presenting the budget, Khattar said his government took many steps for the welfare of farmers, while adding that the government was giving a minimum support price (MSP) on 14 crops, PTI reported.
He said agricultural production had increased at the rate of 8.1 per cent in 2023-24, which is one of the highest in the country.
During the budget presentation, Khattar also said that his government has deposited a payment of Rs 29,876 crore directly into the accounts of farmers in kharif and rabi season in 2023.
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Farmers Protest
The farmer-led ‘Dilli Chalo’ march, which began on February 13, has been temporarily halted. Farmer leaders have appealed for Friday to be observed as a “Black Day”, in solidarity with Shubhkaran Singh who died at the Khanauri border allegedly during a clash with the police.
The ongoing protests are being spearheaded by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha led by Jagjit Singh Dhallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher, who were not prominent in the previous farmers’ protest.