Family alleged that the officials took pictures of the farmer’s wife during recovery visits
During his visit to Yevata in Akola district on October 3, Bawankule specifically directed lending institutions against forceful loan recovery.
When contacted, company representatives reportedly said they had not received any order in this regard and suggested their head office might provide more information. We stand firmly with the farmers,” Upkar said. Agricultural expert Dr Nilesh Patil said gaps in the availability, timing and duration of formal agricultural loans continue to push farmers towards alternative lenders, despite presence of public-sector banks, cooperative banks and other institutional lending networks. The absence of adequate long-term credit facilities is one of the major reasons farmers are pushed towards microfinance companies and private moneylenders,” Patil said.
The allegations surfaced days after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule directed banks to consider the financial distress of farmers affected by crop losses. The company’s detailed response to the allegations is awaited. “There is no visible control over the arbitrary functioning of these microfinance companies. The govt is making announcements, but the ground reality is different. “Farmers often have to arrange funds within a limited period, from June to March, while repayment depends heavily on performance of crops, which is vulnerable to vagaries of nature and other risks.