In Naganur, Belagavi District, farmers leaders broke the lock of a Farmer’s House, that had been sealed by a Private Small Finance Bank for defaulting on loan repayment.
On Wednesday, the leaders visited the house of Saidappa Gadadi, broke open the lock and resettled the farmer’s family in future.
They warned the officers and staff of Equitas Small Finance Bank would not be allowed to lock or seal any farmer’s house in the district in future.
On Monday, the bank had thrown out the farmer’s family, which includes his daughter and her infant child, and also forced them to spend the night out in the cold.
The bank officers obtained a court order to seal his house after he failed to pay on instalments for a loan of Rs 5 Lakh.
In the year 2020, Gadadi had taken a loan and repaid an amount of Rs 3.16 Lakh. He failed to pay instalments as his cows and buffaloes died.
However, Gadadi resumed payment of Rs 16,000 per month. But the bank claimed that it did not receive any payment from Gadadi.
Gadadi, the farmer, suspects that the banking person who collected the payment, had misused the money and failed to deposit it with the bank.
The farmer said,” Now, the bank is demanding me to pay an amount of Rs 4.35 Lakh, which also includes arrears and fines, and has rejected my request for One-Time settlement.”
Meanwhile, the members of the District Child Protection Committee and Officers of the Women and Child Welfare Department visited the farmer’s house assure help and assistance to the farmer.
M.R. Nagaraj, Deputy Director of the Department said that the daughter of the farmer was provided with shelter in the Anganwadi, as soon as the news of the incident reached them. He said that she has now come back to her father’s house.