New Delhi, Sept 14: Finance Minister Jaswant Singh has indicated that the government will shortly come up with housing loan and insurance schemes for rural poor. The finance ministry, in consultation with agriculture ministry, is also planning to come up with another scheme intended to step up capital investment in the agriculture sector, especially for irrigation.

"You and me, who are living in cities, can get a housing loan from banks and housing finance companies without much difficulty. But rural masses are not able to get even a small loan of Rs 5,000-7,000. We are planning to come up with a housing loan scheme for rural masses," Singh told newspersons.

He declined to give details as the scheme is yet to be finalised in consultation with national bank for agriculture and rural development and reserve bank.

"The scheme would be announced within the next one to one-and-half months time," Singh, who hails from a small village in Rajasthan, said.

He also indicated that the government was planning a simplified insurance scheme for farmers.
This would be in addition to the universal health insurance scheme launched by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in July, which enables a person below poverty line to get medical cover for only Re 1 a day.

Referring to a panel on agriculture set up recently, Singh said, "we are going to come up with another package for the farmers. We are in touch with the agriculture ministry in this regard".
Bureau Report