By Abhijit Neogy, CNBC-TV18

The Farmer Debt Waiver Scheme announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget should be applicable to all farmers uniformly - that's the stand taken by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance in its Report.

The Report has recommended a review of criteria for identification of vanishing companies. The Sebi can initiate proceedings if companies fail to file returns with the stock exchanges. The Report has also reprimanded the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation for their delay in formulating separate rural and urban price indices. Food & fertiliser bonds should be accounted for in the Government’s books, the report says.

Regarding the Loan Waiver Scheme, the Report has said that the Scheme addresses only symptoms and not the root cause of rural indebtedness. The provisions of the Scheme should be made applicable to all farmers uniformly, it adds. The Report recommends a holistic approach to resolve problems of farmers. It also recommends adequate provisions for implementation of the scheme in the Budget itself.

With reference to the Clause 49 listing issue, the Report said that it should be referred to the Department of Public Enterprises for critical review of existing procedures.