Mumbai, June 2 (IANS) The approval of the Rs 36,585 crore Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Farmers’ Loan Waiver Scheme has sparked critical debate over its dual impact on Maharashtra’s economic health and banking infrastructure.

The scheme bridges urgent short-term relief for the rural population with complex structural challenges for the state’s economy.

The immediate fiscal challenge lies in absorbing a massive Rs 36,585 crore cash outflow without violating statutory fiscal discipline.

According to state finance department sources, despite the high cost of this scheme alongside other welfare programmes like the Ladki Bahin Yojana (Rs 26,500 crore), the state’s Budget targets a fiscal deficit of 2.8 per cent of GSDP (Rs 1,50,491 crore). This is technically a slight improvement from the previous year’s revised estimate of 3.0 per cent, keeping the state within the 3 per cent cap recommended by the 15th Finance Commission.

While the broader fiscal deficit is capped, the scheme directly expands the state’s revenue deficit, projected at Rs 40,552 crore (0.7 per cent of GSDP). Because loan waivers are classified as revenue expenditure, the government is effectively using borrowed money to cover operational relief rather than capital investments, sources said.

Economists warn of a “crowding out” effect, in which massive welfare allocations limit future growth in capital expenditure for long-term rural infrastructure such as irrigation projects, cold storage networks, and market connectivity. While banks receive immediate liquidity as the government clears outstanding bad debts, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has expressed caution about the long-term impact on credit culture.

For commercial, regional, rural, and cooperative banks, the immediate impact is positive. The state reimburses banks for default loans up to Rs 2 lakh, mechanically cleaning up balance sheets by converting overdue NPAs into liquid cash, banking experts said.

The primary concern raised by financial institutions and the RBI is the distortion of “credit culture.” Repeated waivers can create moral hazard, leading even farmers with repayment capacity to default, expecting the state to clear their debts.

Historically, banks have become risk-averse after massive waivers.

To counter this, the scheme includes an incentive of Rs 50,000 for farmers who regularly repay loans on time. This structural inclusion aims to encourage compliance among non-defaulters, a cooperation department officer said.

Observers noted that while the package provides a vital lifeline to alleviate rural bankruptcy following crop damage, sustainable relief requires investment in climate-resilient farming, irrigation systems, and market price security.

Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in

–IANS

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