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Jaswant announces relief for coffee growers

In a significant relief to the crisis-hit coffee growers, Union Finance Minister Jaswant Singh announced, on Monday, waiver of one year interest on loans borrowed by them and said plantation workers in coffee-growing Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu would be covered under the Centre's "Anna Antyodaya" scheme.

Addressing rallies of coffee growers and plantation workers in Kodagu and Chikamagalur, Singh said the long-term loan repayment period had also been extended from nine to 11 years.

Some 10 to 13 lakh (1-1.3 million) plantation workers of the three states would benefit by the "Anna Antyodaya" scheme, he said.

On the demand for minimum support price for coffee, he said the issue would have to be considered by the Union Cabinet. The government would also pay attention to the modernisation of the coffee industry, he said.

When a demand was made for waiver of loans, Singh said it was not possible to do so and instead announced the waiver of one year interest.

The government, he said, was aware of the problems faced by the coffee growers and was doing its best to help them.

Defence Minister George Fernandes, who also addressed the rallies, shared the government's concern over the crisis facing the coffee industry and said efforts would be made to increase domestic consumption of coffee, including in the defence services.

Union Urban Development Minister Ananthkumar also addressed the rally.

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