Opposition targets Odisha govt over rising suicides due to ‘micro-finance trap and exploitation’

After the dreams of several families were shattered by the mega chit-fund scam, now precious lives are now being lost due to alleged exploitation and harassment by micro-finance companies in Odisha. Such concerns are now being expressed after five persons ended their lives in the past one week over such alleged exploitation by micro-finance companies in different parts of the State.

What is adding to the trauma of the people is that the companies are forcibly re-collecting loans at 30 percent interest rate, informed sources.  As micro-financing companies are now mushrooming across the state, the opposition parties alleged that such business is going under the patronage of the state government.

Recently, an elderly couple in Anlajodi village under Kanas block of Puri district ended their lives after the micro-finance company officials allegedly subjected them to torture and harassment. The deceased Banambar had taken a loan from a private company and was harassed the entire day. Later, Banambar and his wife ended their lives together.

“My father had taken a loan and as he was harassed by the private company, he along with my mother ended his life,” said Pramod Behera.

Similarly, a youth from Odiapali village in Bolangir district ended his life by jumping before a train. The reason was the same. He had taken a loan and was being harassed, alleged the wife of the deceased.

Such rise in suicides over harassment and exploitation by finance companies is nothing just a re-run of what happened during the chit fund scam period, alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP alleged that the state government and microfinance companies are now partners in exploiting people. The party has questioned under whose patronage such companies are collecting money at interest rates much higher than approved by the RBI.

“Naveen Patnaik’s men including BJD leaders are encouraging such private companies. The companies are sending goons to the houses of people who have taken loans from them and harassing them,” alleged State BJP general secretary, Lekhashree Samantsinghar.

The Odisha Congress unit, on the other hand, has alleged that the state government is exploiting SHG women in the name of women empowerment.

“People are not unable to repay loans as the interest rate is too high and they are ending their lives. The state government is neglecting such issues,” said Congress leader, Ganeswar Behera.

Responding to the allegations, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) said that suicides are due to family feuds and the Opposition is doing unnecessary politics.

“There is no loan issue, rather it is due to a family feud. BJP is now giving it the shape of loan burden to defame the state government,” said BJD MLA, Uma Samantaray.