Jharkhand State Level Bankers’ Committee in its 40th special meeting here, recently, on drought relief, has decided to exempt the farmers from paying back loan amount in the current financial year because of severe drought that had affected almost al the districts of the state.

The banks and the government officials who participated in the meeting also agreed that loans to existing and new farmers, including those who were allowed to pay back their loan dues next financial year could avail loans from the banks.