The government had recently raised the waiver programme to Rs. 71,680 crore and had also widened the scope for eligibility.

In his Budget speech, finance minister P. Chidambaram had proposed to waive Rs. 60,000 crore of loans. The package, is to be implemented by 30 June and covers loans overdue on 31 December and remaining unpaid until 29 February, The scheme now also covers Kisan credit card holders and farmers borrowing under self-help and joint liability groups. Kisan credit cards are issued to farmers to buy inputs, and to draw cash for their production needs.

From 40 million estimated farmers who were eligible earlier, the new debt waiver would help some 43 million farmers. The number of farmers holding more than 2 hectare of land, who are eligible for a one-time waiver of Rs20,000 or 25% of their outstanding loans, has come down to about six million from 10 million.