'Govt committed to women, farmers welfare'

HYDERABAD: The Government is committed to welfare of farmers, women and students and has decided to enhance bank credit to agriculture from Rs 80,000 crore last year to Rs 1,05,000 crore this year, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has said.

Speaking at the launch of health insurance scheme for self-help groups and term deposit scheme for senior citizens by Andhra Bank here last night, Chidambaram said only 4 crore farmers, out of 10 crore in the country, benefitted by institutional credit and the government plans to bring 50 lakh more farmers under this credit this year.

He said government had advised all the banks to give educational loans liberally without any security to students pursuing higher studies.

Speaking on the occasion Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy urged the Finance Minister to direct the banks to support government''s housing schemes "Rajiv Gruha Kalpa" under which government proposes to construct five lakh houses in Hyderabad and neighbouring districts.

Andhra Bank CMD T S Narayanaswamy listed the bank''s initiatives in helping the farmers and said it is proposed to extend agricultural credit this year to Rs 3,100 crore.