The speed of the govt indicates that the elections are round the corner. In unprecedented haste Secretary of Agriculture & Cooperation Ministry Sanjay Aggrawal has written to the Chief Secretaries of all the State Governments to undertake a massive exercise of offering Kisan Credit Cards to farmers across the country.
The Government has accorded the matter the highest priority and wants to achieve its goal in a time bound manner. This campaign is being launched through all possible channels- Commercial Banks, Cooperative Banks and Regional Rural Banks in collaboration with State Governments.
According to the govt data, there are around 6.95 crore active KCCs which have helped in increasing agriculture credit and has contributed significantly not only in fulfilling the objective of food security for our country but also in increasing farmers’ income.
However, there are still a large number of farmers who do not have access to institutional credit either because they have not been issued a KCC or the KCC issued earlier is inactive due to various reasons other than NPA.
Farmers already possessing a KCC and involved in activities related to animal husbandry & fisheries can avail an additional sub limit within an overall limit of Rs. three lakh and the interest subvention/prompt repayment incentive will also be applicable within this credit limit.
Those not possessing any KCC, will be eligible for issue of a fresh KCC with credit limit up to Rs two lakhs with applicability of interest subvention.
It has been decided that the KCC will be issued in a time bound manner from the branch where the farmer is already having an account. In case, the eligible farmer is not having any bank account, the same shall be immediately opened in any of the nearby branch of his/her choice within the block.
The camps for collection of applications can be organized bank wise or village wise. The District Level Bankers Committee will decide the modalities of the camp and the date wise schedule.
Farmers can avail the option of directly submitting the completed application form with necessary supporting documents to the bank branch for issue of KCC.
Since the credit availed through KCC will be eligible for interest subvention support of the Govt. of India, the details of Aadhar Card Number of applicants shall also be captured.