Nizamabad: Bogus crop loans would adversely affect the spirit of crop loan waiver scheme in Telangana districts. Especially, misappropriation of crop loans was high in primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS) in Nizamabad district. According to reliable sources, the secretaries of few PACSs’ and a section of staff of district cooperative central bank (DCCB) involved in the irregularities.
The farmers were shocked over noticing their details in defaulters list of the banks for crop loan waiver scheme. They denied taking any loan and added that their names appeared in the bank accounts.
The farmers demanded a detailed inqu-iry in this regard and initiate stringent action against errant staff of cooperative bank and single windows (PACS). It is noted that major political parties, particularly TRS assured in its election manifesto that Rs 1 lakh crop loan would be waived if the party came to power.
Hoping instant benefit, the farmers got crop loans from cooperative banks as well as commercial banks in the district. Treating the waiver scheme as assured income, they got loans even on gold loan for agriculture needs.
The Nizamabad district cooperative central bank (NDCCB) also disbursed Rs 180 crore crop loans during rabi season of 2013-14. Around 65,000 farmers availed the crop loan facility from 32 branches of the bank. Actually, there was limit of crop loan upto Rs 50,000 in last year, but it was enhanced upto Rs 1 lakh recently.
As a result, the farmers, who got loans from the bank turned eligible for crop loan waiver scheme.
Shockingly, connivance between few secretaries of PACS and field officers, branch managers of cooperative banks led misappropriation of funds.
Reportedly, errant staff issued loans on old barrower names, actually they did not applied for fresh loans in recent times.
Utilizing the photocopies of pahani title deeds of lands pertaining to previous loans used to get the loans.
Lack of computerization is also turned major advantage for the fraudsters in cooperative banks. In commercial banks, the loan benefits should be remitted to the direct accounts of the farmers.
But in cooperative banks, the loan amount would be send to the PACS, later it is adjusted to the farmers on their individual accounts. In addition, high level political influence in PACS is also boost up the irregularities. In this context it is believed that crop loan amount is being misappropriated in large number. When contacted, Nizamabad district cooperative central bank general manager T.Anupama said that as of now they did not received any specific complaint on misappropriation of crop loans in the district.
There are some rumours in this regard, but it should ascertain soon, she said. Replying to a question, she said that departmental audit and field verification would expose the irregularities if any found. Bank managers, nodal officers and PACS secretaries would directly made responsible, if irregularity found in crop loan scheme, she explained.
