Farm debt waiver: Govt to pick former IAS officers for panel

Chandigarh : The state government has approached some former IAS officers, including those who have served in the Union Agriculture Ministry, to head the committee to be set up to deal with farm debt. The Congress had promised that it would waive the debt of farmers. The BJP, which had made a similar promise in Uttar Pradesh, has already waived the loans of small and marginal farmers up to Rs1 lakh.
Among those approached include JNL Srivastava, a former Secretary, Agriculture and Cooperation, who also served as MD, Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC), and the director of Nabard, Iffco, Kribhco and Nafed.
He has also represented India in the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Trade Organisation.
Sources said former IAS officer T Nanda Kumar, who also served as Secretary, Agriculture and Food, at the Centre has also be contacted. He also remained Chairman, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for some time. Others include FC (D) Satish Chandra, PAU Vice-Chancellor BS Dhillon and GADVASU Vice-Chancellor AS Nanda. Some other former bureaucrats have also been approached. A senior officer is awaiting their consent. The newly appointed Chairman of the Punjab Farmers’s Commission, Ajay Vir Jakhar, will also be part of the multi- member panel, it is learnt. A former RBI official and a retired officer of an insurance company may also be taken on the panel, said the sources.