Nearly 1.23 lakh Pune district farmers will benefit from Rs 311 crore special loan waiver package announced by the state government. A special committee has been set up under District Collector Chandrakant Dalvi to execute the package. The banks in the district were directed to display the list of beneficiaries by January 31.

"From January 31 to February 15, the names will be rechecked and objections can submitted by February 28," said Chandrakant Dalvi at a press meet to announce the committee. The Government Resolution for the same was announced on January 6.

With Pune getting around 5 per cent share of the total loan waiver package of Rs 6,208 crore, the scheme which has farmers taken loans below Rs 20,000 getting 100 per cent waiver. Around 59, 634 farmers will get a loan waiver of Rs 18.7 crore and will be eligible for fresh loans from April. "The amount will be deposited in the banks by March 31 in the first phase," he said .

While the second part of the scheme which would involve an incentive of Rs 20,000 for farmers burdened with loans above Rs 20,000 would see 63, 430 farmers benefit from this scheme with nearly Rs 213 crore to be distributed as concession on their total principal amount. The money is to be deposited in banks by June 30.

Pune district has 8,855 farmers who have availed of loans before 1997 and are not eligible for the central government's loan waiver package.

These farmers will get Rs 43.24 crore with 7,135 farmers falling in the first category who had availed loans below Rs 20,000 and around 1,720 farmers falling in the second category who had taken loans above Rs 20,000. They will be benefited of Rs 24.99 crore on their principal amount.

The farmers who are regular with repayment too will benefit from this scheme. Pune district has 85, 923 farmers who have been regular in loan repayment and they will avail of Rs 63.49 crore.