OREANDA-NEWS. In order to simplify the process of sanctioning the crop loan and provide hassle-free crop loan to farmers, the Government/Reserve Bank of India (RBI)/National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) have, inter-alia, taken the following major steps:

• Government has introduced the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme, which enables them to purchase agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc and draw cash to address their consumption needs.

• This KCC Scheme has further been simplified and converted into ATM enabled debit card with, inter-alia, facilities of one-time documentation and built-in cost escalation in the limit, etc. As per the revised scheme, the KCC is valid for five years subject to an annual review. The farmer is required to furnish one-time documentation at the time of first availment of loan and, thereafter, simple declaration about crop raised/proposed is required to be given from the second year onwards.

• Banks have been advised by RBI to waive margin/security requirements of agricultural loans upto Rs. 1,00,000/-. The requirement of ‘no due’ certificate has also been dispensed with for small loans upto Rs, 50,000/- to small and marginal farmers, share-croppers and the like and, instead, only a self-declaration from the borrower is required.

• Small, marginal, tenant farmers, oral lessees, etc, have been brought into the fold of institutional credit through Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) promoted by banks, which are sanctioned crop loans on relaxed terms.

The concerned banks have their own grievance redressal mechanism for resolution of grievances/complaints. Any complaints/grievances which are brought to the notice of Government/RBI/NABARD are taken up with the concerned banks for resolution.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Finance, Shri Arun Jaitley in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.