-The Indian Express All the farmers who faced criminal action for defaulting on loans say they were made to sign on blank cheques. “If you write about our plight, will the government stop banks from sending us to jail?,” asks Ujagar Singh. The 60-year-old from Jhumba village in Bathinda district is among scores of Punjab farmers who have been convicted or are facing trial in criminal cases of cheque-bouncing filed by banks...

-Scroll.in Private insurance companies have benefitted more than farmers from the new crop insurance scheme.     Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana was launched to expand crop insurance coverage in India     But coverage has shrunk, despite compulsory enrollment of farmers at the time of taking loans     Private companies retain a larger share of government funds than before     Farmer groups have opposed compulsory enrollment and complained about payment delays.   In its manifesto for the...

-Outlook "The Congress governments in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have waived farmers' loans as promised," he said, adding, "If a Congress-led government comes to power in Delhi, farm loans will be waived across the country." Congress president Rahul Gandhi Sunday said his party would waive farm loans and give a big push to the food processing industry if voted to power in the Lok Sabha elections Alleging that the Centre's crop insurance...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Will it be Telangana’s ‘Rythu Bandhu’ or Odisha’s ‘Kalia’ scheme which the Centre bets on in its much anticipated farm package ahead of general elections? Apart from these two schemes, the Centre is also looking at some proposals including area-based income compensation and waiving off premium for crop insurance and interest on loans for farmers who pay on time. The Centre’s farm options are due to...

-The Hindu Business Line It scores over loan waivers as it benefits all farmers and gives them more control over the cultivation and sale of their produce There is an illusion across various quarters that a one-time farm loan waiver can remove all the hardships farmers have been going through over the last 15 years or so. This illusion has been occupying more space in public discourse in recent months because of...