Deputy collector Satish Soni will head the cell
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Beed district administration has launched a dedicated district-level grievance redressal cell and a 24×7 WhatsApp helpline (9307325586) for farmers and citizens amid a surge in complaints related to illegal moneylending and delays in the farm loan waiver process. District collector Vivek Johnson said illegal moneylenders would face strict action under the Maharashtra Money Lending (Regulation) Act, 2014. The administration said under the farm loan waiver scheme announced on June 2, lists of 2.04 lakh farmers with overdue crop loans from nationalised and cooperative banks have already been published. Aadhaar authentication of 37,581 beneficiaries is, however, still pending.
“Microfinance firms and financial institutions have been warned to treat borrowers courteously and barred from hiring people with criminal records for recovery, using coercive recovery methods, or seizing vehicles,” he said. Deputy collector Satish Soni will head the cell, with assistant registrar Rishikesh Katale and assistant lead bank manager Shrikant Lokhande serving as members. Johnson, along with district deputy registrar Satish Totawar, urged citizens and farmers to submit complaints in writing through the WhatsApp helpline. Farmers whose verification is incomplete have been asked to approach the grievance cell with relevant documents and complete the process at the earliest.
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In a stern warning to banks, the administration said fresh crop loans must be sanctioned immediately to farmers who have benefited from the waiver scheme. Failure to do so could invite legal action against the concerned institutions. Download the TOI App.