bangalore heeding former chief minister bs yeddyurappas demand chief minister jagadish shettar on tuesday announced a rs 3500crore farm loan waiver that will provide relief to over 16 lakh droughthit farmers in the state replying to an extended debate on drought in the legislative assembly shettar said farmers who took loans up to rs 25000 from cooperative institutions between august 2011 and june 2012 are eligible for this waiver only those farmers who have defaulted on loan repayments will benefit under this package for the sake of farmers were ready to take on this huge financial burden shettar said the state government has been under tremendous pressure not only from opposition parties to announce a separate farm loan waiver but also yeddyurappa who spoke on drought on monday as if he was an opposition leader shettar also announced rs 125 crore for former cms pet scheme suvarna bhoomi and ordered the release of funds for social security schemes including the old age and disabled pension release as sought by yeddyurappa i have asked officials to ensure there shouldnt be anymore complaints on the delay in release of old age and disabled pension he added the cm said deputy commissioners will be directed to expedite the transfer of title deeds to flood victims of 2009 but opposition parties were not impressed by such magnanimity they trooped into the well of the house to protest against the alleged governments antifarmers stand and later staged a walkout shouting slogans its just eyewash and a publicity gimmick about 90 of the farmers have already repaid the loans and the interest what about farmers who have obtained loans from nationalized banks what about those who have taken loans more than rs 25000 what about those who have not availed of loans but are drought affected if the bjp government was serious about providing relief to drought victims it should have waived off the entire crop loan unconditionally the farmers have incurred a total loss of rs 10000 crore due to drought said opposition leader in the legislative assembly siddaramaiah jds leader m c nanaiah said it will only benefit a small section of farmerswhat happens to the farmers who have availed more than rs 25000 the government should have been more pragmatic and i contest the governments claim of rs 3500 crore burden