-SATISH HANDA

Haryana state government in order to recover economic crisis faced by the state government due to non-recovery of revenue due to lock down has decided to assist entrepreneurs in every sector especially micro, small, medium enterprises (MSME) the backbone for the prosperity  of a state and announced loans of value worth Rs 2500 crore from banks for investment in setting up industry. Addressing a digital press conference, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khatter said that nearly five lakh small entrepreneurs will be given loans up to Rs 50000 each from banks on the recommendation of state government on which 50% amount of interest would be borne by the government. He said that those interested to make industrial investment in the state unable to bear the cost of land would be given  land belonging to Panchayat on lease hold basis since most of the entrepreneurs willing to set up industry in the state are initially unable to invest on land available on higher rates.

Khatter said, there is also provision for loan up to Rs 15000 for ‘Rehri’ vendors, Riksha pullers and Auto-riksha drivers managing both ends meal for their families at the rate of 4% interest equally shared by them as well as government 2% each. He said, this announcement by the state government Haryana is separate from the financial packages already announced by Union government. Khatter further said that crop loan scheme announced by the state government already expired has been further extended up to June 30, 2020 and nearly 4,10,000 farmers has been benefited by this scheme, apart from this Rs 1314 crore interest on agriculture loans and fines on the farmers has also been waived  by the government and 1,12,000 farmers have been benefited by waiving their tube well bills and nearly 1,10,000 families having annual income up to Rs 1,80,000 have been provided facility for free medical aid up to Rs 5 lakh in the state.

Khatter said, amount for the labourers payable under MNREGA scheme in Haryana state has been revised to Rs 309 per day, which is highest in the country as compared to other states. He said, each acre farmers’ income on agriculture land is likely to increase by Rs 2500 due to enhancement of minimum support prices (MSP) of crops by the state government. He said, MSP in case of paddy crop has been increased Rs 53 per quintal, whereas MSP in case of maize has been increased by Rs 80 per quintal as a result farmers in 50000 hectare agriculture land has agreed to change their crop pattern from Paddy to alternate crops to save water crisis faced by Haryana state. As regard industrial developments in Haryana state, Chief Minister said that after having discussion with companies in Japan and USA to make industrial investment in Haryana state, video conferencing is going on with companies in Korea to set up industry in the state to fill up the gap of revenue loss worth Rs 15000 crore Haryana state suffered due to lock down in the state for over two months.