Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)
Bantwal, Feb 4: As at January 25 this year, a year passed since the election was held for the board of directors of Bantwal Land Development Bank. But, the elected representatives have not yet been given the reins of the bank management.
Election was held to 12 posts of the bank on January 25, 2020. Seven Candidates supported by the BJP had been elected while the Congress supporters succeeded in bagging only five seats.
Since the time the Land Development Bank here came into being, it was always managed by candidates supported by the Congress. But, after a gap of 40 years, for the first time, management was to go to people supported by the BJP. Just two days before the election process for the posts of the president and vice president were to be held, the high court stayed the process. Therefore, the elected administration has not yet taken over the management.
Immediate Past president of the bank's board, Sudarshan Jain, had approached the court, accusing irregularities in the election process and claiming about casting of votes in the name of ineligible and deceased members of the bank. On the basis of his representation, the court had stayed the new management from taking over the reins. The dispute is still being heard by the high court and it may take one to two months for the orders to be issued. At present, deputy registrar of cooperatives, Mangaluru is functioning as the administrative officer of the bank.
Even without the administration of elected representatives, the bank has been disbursed loans to member farmers. A committee of the deputy registrar of cooperative societies, district manager of the bank and secretary of the Land Development Bank, are verifying the loan applications and giving sanctions. Under the NABARD scheme, already about a crore of rupees has been given as loan. However, many including director of the bank, Arun Roshan D'Souza, feel that it will be advantageous for the people and the farmers if the court settles the dispute at the earliest.