Parkash Singh Badal announces relief for farmers

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government today scrapped the provision of submitting fresh revenue assessments for seeking loans from Primary Agricultural Co-operative Societies (PACSs), in cases where there was no change in the ownership or tillage.

The decision is aimed at enabling farmers to avail Maximum Credit Limit (MCL) from the PACSs, said a spokesperson of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Badal took the decision today during a meeting with senior officials of the Cooperation department.

As per the new decision, farmers will get loans from PACSs on the basis of existing revenue assessments as per land record registers maintained by them.

Members of co-operative societies who have not transferred ownership of their land or tillage rights, need not to give any fresh revenue assessments to the PACSs for seeking MCL, according to today's decision.

The Chief Minister directed the Registrar of Co-Operative Societies to issue detailed guidelines asking deputy registrars to immediately implement this decision in letter and spirit.

Besides, deputy registrars will be in touch with Deputy Commissioners to ensure that directions were passed on to officials of the Revenue Department for its proper implementation, the spokesperson said.

Fresh revenue assessments will be needed only in cases where ownership or tillage rights of the land belonging to a member of the society has been transferred.