Mysuru: Scores of farmers, under the banner of Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association, staged a demonstration in front of the DC’s  office here on Saturday, urging the Government to simplify the rules governing disbursal of farm loans.

Addressing the farmers, Association President Kurubur Shantakumar alleged that fresh loans were not being sanctioned by the Banks without registration of the land at the Sub-Registrar’s office, under the intimation that they are applying for loans.

Pointing out that this amounted to mortgaging the land for securing loans, Shantakumar wanted the Government to relax the norms as farmers are in distress with the new norms as it takes multiple visits to the Sub-Registrar’s office.

Maintaining that the earlier norms that entailed submission of Encumbrance Certificate should be continued to keep the loan disbursal exercise simple, he alleged that financial institutions were delaying the disbursal of fresh loans citing the model code of conduct.

Further alleging that the crop loan waiver announced by the State Government had not benefited a majority of farmers, Shantakumar demanded total loan waiver and payment of additional SAP price to sugarcane growers.

Association office-bearers Attahalli Devaraj, Somashekar, Hallikerehundi Bhagyaraj, Kiragasur Shankar, Varakudu Krishnegowda and others took part.