Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Aug 2: Innocent people lose lives after getting entangled in the debt trap created by greedy moneylenders. People who raise loans either unnecessarily or out of bare necessity, slowly get trapped in this quicksand, and opt to embrace death after facing untold miseries at the hands of people who provide them finance at high rates of interest and then harass them to repay money with interest. The role of private moneylenders has played a leading role in farmer suicides across the state, as per reports. This phenomenon has also showed its presence and influence in this district.

It is becoming increasingly evident now, that most of those who opted to raise loans at unreasonable rates of interest happen to be farmers. Agriculturists from rural area get initially enticed into the lure of borrowing money to meet their immediate requirements like family functions, marriages, sickness etc. But when the loan they raised starts to accumulate interest at high speed, they become frustrated. A farmer from Amasebail village in the taluk recently tried to end his life, reportedly because of unbearable loan burden and pressure on loan repayment. Several such cases keep happening in the taluk in particular and the district in general, but most of them get a decent burial without coming into the open.

A huge movement is now being crystallized through the length and breadth of the state against the cruel faces of private money lending business. Efforts are on to educate farming communities about the ill affects of borrowing from private creditors. Although people's representatives and officials have been trying to deliver this message to all, this can only be done effectively at gram panchayat level alone, as they have the capability to reach even the last individual, many claim.

There are many government schemes under which loans with subsidies can be availed by farmers. They also get loans easily through cooperative banks. Tragically farmers continue to embrace facilities offered by private moneylenders perhaps to avoid the need to pool proper documents for raising loan from banks, societies etc. Many say that they do not get detailed information about loan facilities of the government through agriculture and horticulture departments. As private moneylenders are easily approachable, farmers raise loans from them, it is gathered.

The assistant commissioner here has warned farming community about the deadly result of leaning on private financing. He has also warned that the moneylenders will be held directly held responsible under different sections of Money Lenders Act and Pawnbrokers Act, if those who raise loans commit suicide because of their exploitation. He also has pointed out that conducting the business of finance without obtaining licence is a punishable offence. He has further announced that secrecy will be maintained about the names of the complainants who provide information about tush moneylenders.