Gulzar Singh Virk, a resident of village Alipur Araian near Patiala, will benefit a total of Rs 2,86,700 from the Centre’s 71,000-crore loan waiver scheme.

Gulzar, who owns four acres of land, had taken Rs 1 lakh as crop loan and another Rs 3.5 lakh under the Kisan Gold Card loan for buying a tractor and for sowing seeds.

Though he is yet to receive a certificate of loan waiver under the scheme from the State Bank of Patiala’s Agriculture Development Branch, from where he had availed the loan on November 22, 2005, an elated Gulzar says, “I am very happy over this development and am thankful to the Government for bringing me out of my loan crisis.”

Gulzar, who lost his father and brother in separate incidents, says the loan waiver has come as a welcome relief after many years.

Still recuperating from an accident he suffered last month, Gulzar says he has to take care of a big family, including his mother and his brother’s family, besides his own.

“I will never forget this favour done to me and my family,” adds Gulzar.