Kandarei Gram Panchayat sarpanch Sudam Charan Beura, Panchayat Samiti members, ward members, peasant leaders, members and executives of different Self Help Groups(SHG),Vana Surakshya Samitis, Pani Panchayat, Matru Committee etc took out a rally and submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Collector here on cheating and exploitation by microfinance companies running in the panchayat and nearby areas.
They alleged that hundreds of innocent women and peasants of the panchayat have been victimised and demanded action against the firms. According to sources, the micro-finance companies have mushroomed in the panchayat and are extending loan facilities to the women members of SHGs. The women members who took the loans from these micro-finance companies gave the money to their spouses for investment in farming. Under the prevailing drought situation, the debt-ridden SHG members are unable to repay the loans as their spouses have failed to return the money back.
The agitators alleged that even when the Government has asked the banks and societies not to collect agricultural loans now, the micro finance firms are forcing the loanees to pay off. Consequently, the women loanees are forced to sell their cattle, furniture and BPl rice and whatever valuables available at home to pay off the debt. This apart, the women are also quarrelling with their husbands for money. As most of the dwellers of the panchayat are tribals and SEBCs, the micro-finance companies manage to exploit them, said sarpanch Beura.