Expedite process to open ‘mirror accounts’ for farmers taking crop loans, directs High Court

Pursuant to his earlier order allowing more time to the farmers to get familiar with the system and open mirror accounts, Justice N Anand Venkatesh said, “The main concern that has been expressed is that there are nearly 4,450 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in Tamil Nadu consisting of nearly 90 lakh members. The manpower that is available in the PACSs is disproportionate to the total number of farmers who want to avail the farm loan. Therefore, it will take a long time to open a mirror account to each and every one of the farmers.”

The judge pointed out that some method has to be devised to expedite the process by bringing in more manpower to collect the applications from farmers, and added that a combined effort by Nabard and State agencies could provide a solution to this problem. However, recording the arrangements made by the central cooperative banks in helping farmers open mirror accounts, the judge directed the Registrar of Cooperative Societies to file a report suggesting ways and means to expedite the process. The plea has been posted to October 28 for further hearing .

As per the new scheme, farmers can withdraw cooperative society loan only after opening a mirror account at the respective District Central Cooperative Bank, and the loan amount can be withdrawn only through an ATM using Kisan Credit Card.