Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Monday (14 March), made several big announcements during the budget session of the MP legislative assembly. As per this report, the CM announced that the state government will pay the interest due on the debt of defaulter farmers, and that the electricity dues of the Covid period will also be waived off.

While thanking the Governor for his customary budget address, CM Chouhan enumerated the various achievements of his government. The CM also made several other announcements regarding increase in the MLA fund, changes in marks evaluation scheme for police constable recruitment, redesigning the Ladli Laxmi Yojana and relaunch of the Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana among other things, reported Amar Ujala.

State To Pay Additional Loan Interests

While announcing that the state government will defray the loan interests on behalf of the farmer, the CM said, "The government will pay the additional interest of the farmers who became defaulters due to the Congress's loan waiver promise."

Taking a jibe at the Congress, the CM said that the Congress’s loan waiver gimmick disrupted the loan repayment. “Many farmers did not pay back the loan for the promised waiver of Rs 2 lakh and became defaulters. These farmers are now bearing the unnecessary burden of extra interest. The government will reimburse the additional interest for such defaulters,” claimed CM Chouhan.

The CM’s announcement has brought a huge sigh of relief for the farmers who were compelled to pay an additional amount as interest for they believed the previous government’s loan waiver promise, which it could not fulfil during its tenure.

Government To Waive Off Covid Electricity Dues Worth Rs 6400 Crore

The Chief Minister also announced to waive off the electricity dues of the covid pandemic period. Chouhan informed that the due electricity bills of 88 lakh people would be waived. Under the Samadhan Yojana, 48 lakh people had deposited their electricity bills. As reported, their money would be reimbursed and will be adjusted in further bills.

While this will put an additional burden of Rs 6,400 crore on the state, lakhs of consumers will directly benefit from the electricity bill exemptions.

One Crore Increased In MLA Fund

To aid the interests of the MLAs, CM Chouhan announced an increase in the MLA funds. "Today, we are taking another historic decision. From now on, the amount of MLA funds in Madhya Pradesh is being increased from Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore. In that too, the amount of voluntary donation will be Rs 50 lakh,” said CM Chouhan.

However, the Congress MLAs have demanded to increase the fund to Rs 5 crore. The demand for increasing the MLA funds in Madhya Pradesh was long due and has now been fulfilled.