Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Aug 13: Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner, A B Ibrahim, asked bankers not to resort to forcible recovery of farm loans, and not to register any new cases against farmers. He was speaking after presiding over a meeting relating to problems of farmers held at the auditorium of the office of the deputy commissioner on Wednesday August 12.

He asked the lead bank of the district to approach state level bankers committee with a request to permit rephasement of farm loans. Under this, the farmers can approach the banks before their loans fall due for repayment, duly explaining the situation they are facing, supported by documents. Cooperative banks have agreed to this suggestion, he added.

Ibrahim asked farmers not to turn panicky at the receipt of notices from banks. District lead bank manager, Prabhu Alagawadi, said that notices may be issued relating to suspension of voting rights of defaulters during general body meetings, and court notices in respect of suits filed before July. He said that in view of objections, banks have been directed not to collect signed blank cheques from borrowers.

Subrahmanya Shastri, speaking on behalf of farmers, expressed his anger at banks and cooperative banks for not informing farmers about their eligibility to get fresh loans after rephasement of earlier loans. He also accused cooperative banks of flouting Reserve Bank of India norms.

Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat deputy secretary, N R Umesh, additional superintendent of police, V Shantakumar, deputy director of horticulture, Yogeesh H R, deputy registrar of cooperative societies, B K Saleem, joint director of agriculture, Kempe Gowda, and SCDCC Bank chief executive officer, G Babu Billava, were present.