File photo of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has today formally launched the 'Farmers Debt Redemption Scheme' in his native district of Chittoor, fulfilling a key electoral promise.
"Our TDP Government has made the debt relief scheme a reality although no party supported it and also they ridiculed my promises to the farming community on the loan waiver scheme," he told a gathering of farmers after unveiling the scheme in Chittoor, 70 km from here.
The opposition parties contended that it was impossible to implement such scheme but "I proved it a reality and now I kept up my promise made to peasants, benefiting about 22.79 lakh cultivators who availed crop loans," Mr Naidu said.
He said the TDP Government would take all measures to protect the self-respect of agrarian community in the state.
The TDP in its manifesto for the assembly polls had assured to waive farm loans of up to Rs 1.50 lakh per family.
As per the 'Debt Redemption Scheme', those who took loans between April 1, 2007 and December 31, 2013 are eligible for the waiver.
Before leaving for Hyderabad, Mr Naidu inaugurated a 3-day summit on 'Sustainable Public Private Partnerships in Infrastructure' organised by Southern regional chapter of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at a private hotel here.