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Congress to offer comprehensive farm loan waiver, may cost Rs 2 lakh crore
New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) The Congress will give a comprehensive loan waiver to farmers at the national level if it comes to power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, party sources said on Friday.
The loan waiver will complement the minimum income guarantee already announced by the party and these measures, along with those being worked out for other sections, are expected to be game-changers for the party in the polls.
The farm loan waiver had yielded the party political benefits in last year’s assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and the party is now ruling the three states.
“We will announce the loan waiver for all the farmers in the country,” Nana Patole, Chairman, All India Kisan Congress told IANS.
He said the amount of loan waived would be bigger than the Rs 72,000 crore waiver announced by the Congress-led UPA government and it could be to the tune of Rs 2 lakh crore.
He said that farm loan waiver was one of the several steps the party has planned for welfare of farmers.
“The loan waiver is intended to allow them to stand on their own feet. We will supplement it with other measures to improve their income,” he said.
Patole said that the party will bring down cost of agriculture and give more price to farmers.
“If input cost comes down, they will have more money in their hands,” he said
Patole said that the party is keen on localised food-processing which will help prevent wastage of vegetables and fruits and also create employment.
The party had said at its plenary last year that it would come out with a loan-waiver scheme for small and marginal farmers similar to that announced by the UPA government in 2009 if voted to power in the general election.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi had announced last month that the party would ensure “minimum income guarantee” for every poor person in the country if it is voted to power in the coming Lok Sabha polls.
Apart from the farm loan waiver and minimum income guarantee, the party is planning measures for the welfare of the landless wokers, agriculture workers, small shopkeepers and youth.
The announcements will be part of party’s manifesto.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.