Telangana Crop Loan Waiver Scheme 2024 Apply Online, Eligibility, Documents, Installment Transfer

Telangana government has transferred 1st installment of Crop Loan Waiver Scheme on 18th July 2024. In the Telangana farm loan waiver scheme first installment, govt. has waived off Rs. 1 lakh crop loans in one go by depositing Rs. 6,098 crore in farmer's bank accounts. While 6098 crore was released by the govt. for clearing loans upto Rs. 1 lakh, the 2nd installment would clear loans upto Rs. 1.5 lakh. In the 3rd installment, loans upto Rs. 2 lakh would be cleared before August 2024 end.

Read this article till the end to know how to apply online for TS farmer loan waiver scheme, what is the eligibility criteria, list of documents required, get installment transfer updates and other aspects regarding the scheme.

Telangana Crop Loan Waiver Scheme 1st Installment Transfer

CM A Revanth Reddy said on 18th July 2024 that the state has emerged as a role model for the entire country in farmers’ welfare by depositing Rs 6,098 crore in their bank accounts towards loan waiver. The hon'ble Chief Minister has termed the farm loan waiver up to Rs 1 lakh in one go as a "historic event in the country". CM said for the first time a state govt had fulfilled its promise involving a huge amount of Rs. 31,000 crore within eight months of coming to power. He formally launched the loan waiver scheme at the secretariat. 

Revanth had made loan waiver a major poll plank during the Lok Sabha elections and promised to complete the exercise by Aug 15. CM also said that Pattadar passbook is only criterion for waiver. While Rs 6,098 crore was released by the govt for clearing loans up to Rs 1 lakh, the second instalment would clear loans up to Rs 1.5 lakh. In the third instalment, loans of up to Rs 2 lakh would be cleared before Aug-end.

CM Revanth attacked the previous BRS govt saying it did not keep its loan waiver promise. "During its first term between 2014-18, the BRS govt released only Rs. 12,000 crore as against Rs. 16,000 crore and in the second term, out of the promised Rs. 12,000 crore, only Rs. 9,000 crore was released towards loan waiver. In the last 10 years, the BRS has not released more than Rs. 21,000 crore despite distress among the farmers,” the CM said. 

Mr. A Revanth Reddy alleges that some leaders were trying to create confusion among the farming community and linking the scheme to having a ration card, the CM clarified that only pattadar passbook was the criterion for clearing the farm loans. "I appeal to the farmers not to believe this false propaganda. Ration card is only meant to identify the family," he said. Soon after the launch of the scheme, Congress leaders expressed their happiness, stating that despite the financial burden, the Congress stood by its promise. Celebrations commenced at Gandhi Bhavan, where Congress leaders poured milk over cut-outs of chief minister Revanth Reddy and distributed sweets.

Telangana Farm Loan Waiver Scheme 2024 Guidelines 

On 15th July 2024, Telangana government has released TS Farm Loan Waiver Scheme guidelines. The state govt. is planning to implement Rs. 2 lakh farm loan waiver scheme by August. A farmer's family has been taken as a single unit and details as per the food security card issued by the civil supplies department will be considered as the parameter to define one family. According to GO 567, the scheme is applicable for farm loans obtained between Dec 12, 2018, and Dec 9, 2023.

The farm loans eligible for the scheme are those taken from scheduled commercial banks, rural regional banks and district cooperative banks. It would not apply to loans taken by self-help groups, joint liability groups (JLGs), rythu mithra groups (RMGs), or via loan eligibility cards (LECs). Loan waivers would also not apply to rescheduled and restructured debts as well as loans obtained by corporations and firms, except those taken from Primary Agriculture Credit Societies . 

The govt has not specified an exclusion list for the scheme but stated that all exclusions under PM Kisan Yojana will apply to the extent practical. It would mean that govt employees, taxpayers, elected representatives, and a few other sections would be automatically excluded. 

To map eligible farmers' families, the Aadhaar data from pattadar passbooks will be matched with the public distribution system (PDS) database. Funds for eligible families will be put into farmers accounts via direct benefit transfer. If there are more people in the family having agricultural loans, women's loans will be waived first and the remaining amount will be adjusted for loans by others. 

The GO also mentioned that if any farmer was found to have given wrong information to avail the benefit, then he or she will have to pay back the funds to the govt. The agriculture department has the right to recover the amount, the GO stated.

Telangana Farm Loan Waiver Scheme Funds

Telangana govt. has decided to waive loans upto Rs. 2 lakh of farmers by spending Rs. 31,000 crore. The decision to waive farm loans was taken at the state cabinet meeting chaired by CM A Revanth Reddy. CM told media after the Cabinet meeting that a decision was taken to waive farm loans taken between December 12, 2018 and December 9, 2023. As the 1st installment, Rs. 6098 crore has already been transferred to farmer's bank accounts on 18th July.

CM declared that the loans would be waived in an effective manner, unlike the previous government of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) which waived loans of up to Rs. 1 lakh in four instalments. Revanth Reddy said while the previous BRS government, in its two terms between 2014 and 2023, waived loans of up to Rs. 21,000 crore, the Congress government would spend Rs. 31,000 crore. 

The hon'ble CM recalled that the promise was made in the farmers' declaration unveiled by party leader Rahul Gandhi at Warangal on May 6, 2022. He said by implementing the promise, the government would send a clear message that agriculture is a festivity and not a loss-making profession. Revanth Reddy said while the previous government in 10 years did not fulfil promises made to farmers, the Congress government was implementing its promises in eight months.

Telangana Crop Loan Waiver Scheme in TS Budget 2024-25

On 10th February 2024, Finance Minister presented Telangana Budget 2024-25. While presenting the TS Budget, FM said "The prosperity of the village is linked to the prosperity of the farmer. This is possible only, if agriculture is profitable. Keeping the welfare of the farmer in mind, we promised in our manifesto that we would implement the loan waiver programme for farmers by waiving of their loans upto Rs. 2 lakhs. We are in the process of preparing the necessary guidelines to implement this. This is a testimony of our commitment towards the welfare of the farmer much in contrast to the previous government".

Telangana Farm Loan Waiver Scheme Benefits & Features

• Taking plight of the farmers into consideration in the state, the TS government while giving priority to agriculture sector will waive off the outstanding loans of all the farmers in the state.
• In the current dispensation, crop loans are usually sanctioned for a period of one year and rolled over at the end of the year on payment of interest. There are hardly, fresh few loans giving cash inflow to farmers thus forcing them to purchase high cost inputs on credit at a very high interest.
• The Government of Telangana is convinced that unless this cycle is broken with crop loan waiver, farmers will remain trapped in perpetual indebtedness. Keeping in view this imperative, the Government of Telangana is going to formulate the Crop Loan Waiver Scheme.
• This scheme shall cover only institutional loans and will not cover loans from non-institutional sources.
• This scheme will cover short term production loans and crop loans against gold disbursed to farmers in the Telangana State by scheduled Commercial Banks, Cooperative Credit Institutions (including Urban Cooperative Banks) and Regional Rural Banks collectively called as the "lending institutions".
• The amount eligible for waiver will be upto Rs. 2 lakh (principal together with applicable interest) per family. The farmer family is defined as head of family, spouse and dependent children.
• Gold Loans availed from Urban and Metropolitan Banks/Bank branches as Crop Loans shall not be eligible for waiver. 
• However, loans availed from the Urban/Metropolitan branches, which have rural areas also as their service areas would be eligible for loan waiver.

Eligibility Criteria for Telangana Farmer Loan Waiver Scheme

The applicants applying for the scheme must fulfill the following eligibility criteria:

• The candidate must live in Telangana permanently.
• Only outstanding crop loans upto Rs. 2 lakh of farmers would be waived off. 
• Application form is must to be filled to get farm loan waiver scheme benefits.

Also Read - Telangana Rythu Bharosa Scheme Registration

Required Documents for TS Farm Loan Waiver Scheme

Some of the important documents required for the crop loan waiver scheme in Telangana are as follows:

• Recent Passport size photograph
• Aadhar card of applicant
• Residence certificate
• Age Proof
• Loan details
• Income Certificate
• Email ID
• Mobile number
• Bank account details
• Land Details or other proof that applicant is either engaged in farming or farming related activities

Steps to Apply for TS Farmer Loan Waiver Scheme

There is no certain application process yet released by the government, also no website has been mentioned by the government. Although, general application process to apply for the scheme has been mentioned below.

• First of all, visit the official website of the TS Crop Loan Waiver scheme
• The homepage of the website will open on your screen
• Click on the "Apply Online" link. 
• The application form will open on your screen
• Now, fill in the form with all the required details
• After that, upload all the required documents
• Finally, click on the submit button to complete the application process.

Overview of TS Farm Loan Waiver Scheme

Name of Scheme	Crop Loan Waiver Scheme (CLWS)
State	Telangana
Scheme Type	Farmer Loan Waiver
First Mention in	Congress Manifesto (Abhaya Hastham)
Implementation Year	2024 onward
Announced by	Sh. Rahul Gandhi before Telangana assembly elections
Benefit	All outstanding farm loans upto Rs. 2 lakh of farmers would be waived off
Cabinet Approval Date	21 June 2024
Launch Date	18 July 2024

Telangana Crop Loan Waiver Scheme in Congress Manifesto

In the run-up to the Telangana Assembly elections, Congress released its manifesto in which it is said that we will waive off crop loans of 2 lakhs at once, as soon as INC assumes power. In manifesto, it is mentioned that if our govt. is formed then we will waive off the crop loans of farmers up to Rs. 2 lakhs. Also, farmers will be given interest-free crop loans of up to Rs. 3 lakhs.

Earlier TS Crop Loan Waiver Scheme Website - https://clw.telangana.gov.in/