The Maharashtra government's decision to expand the scope of the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana 2026 is expected to benefit more than 25,000 farmers in Nashik who have defaulted on loans from the Nashik District Central Cooperative (NDCC) Bank, according to officials.
Eligibility Criteria for Loan Waiver
Santosh Bidwai, the administrator of NDCC Bank, stated that bank authorities are currently calculating the exact number of farmers who will benefit from the scheme. He noted that only farmers who became defaulters after the 2019 government loan waiver scheme and before September 30, 2025, will be eligible, with the number likely exceeding 25,000. Account holders with loans up to Rs 2 lakh from the NDCC Bank are expected to benefit.
Details of the Waiver
The state cabinet has announced a waiver on crop loans up to Rs 2 lakh. A bank official explained that both the principal loan amount and interest up to Rs 2 lakh are eligible for waiver for farmers meeting the criteria. However, if the outstanding loan exceeds this amount, farmers must clear the surplus to avail of the waiver.
Background and Demand
The farming community has been demanding the inclusion of those left out of previous loan waiver schemes due to strict terms. In 2017, the NDCC had disbursed a record Rs 1,750 crore in loans. While many farmers received waivers under the earlier Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shetkari Sanman Yojana, several cultivators, including grape and pomegranate growers, remained deprived due to technical criteria.
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