Tahsildar visits village owing to complaints of harassment from microfinance institutions

Officials led by Tahsildar Girija visited the villages in Chamarajangar taluk on Saturday to look into the complaints of alleged harassment from microfinance institutions.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Acting on directions from the Deputy Commissioner, Shilpa Nag, the tahsildar of Chamarajanagar on Saturday visited Heggadawadipura and Deshahalli villages in the taluk where loan borrowers are believed to be leaving the villages following alleged harassment from microfinance institutions.

The move by the district administration comes after mainstream media highlighted the plight of a student from Heggadawadipura village who poured out the problems faced by his family from a microfinance institution.

Tahsildar Girija and her team visited the villages and spoke to the people.

The tahsildar was accompanied by Taluk Panchayat EO Srinivas, Sirestedar Vinu, Revenue Inspector Satish, Panchayat Development Officer Mamatha besides, and lead bank representative Madhusudan.

The team visited the house of student at Heggadawadipura and spoke to his mother on the extent of loan availed through microfinance. The officials collected details on loans availed and the repayment done.

During the visit, the student’s mother told the officials that the representatives of the finance institution visited their house daily and allegedly abused them with foul language demanding repayment of loan. The alleged harassment from the microfinance company has also affected the education of her son, she claimed.

In response, the tahsildar told the family that she will look into the matter and take necessary action.

The tahsildar told the people to lodge complaints either with the district administration or the police or the local officials if any such institution was engaged in any harassment in future.

During the officials’ visit, they were told that some women had left Deshahalli and Heggadawadipura unable to bear the alleged harassment from the microfinance institutions and fearing action. “This has affected the education of their children,” people from these villages are said to have informed the tahsildar.

An awareness programme will be held in the villages after Makar Sankranti with regard to microfinance institutions, she said.

There is no need to fear microfinances and the people can directly complain to the district administration or the police if they resort to harassment, Ms. Girija said.