Farmers' Union Leaders Demand Priority for Farmers in Co-operative Bank Loan Disbursal
In a significant development in Belagavi, leaders of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) have raised strong objections to the loan distribution practices of the Belagavi District Central Co-operative Bank Ltd (BDCC Bank). The farmers' representatives are calling for a fundamental shift in the bank's priorities, emphasizing that agricultural communities should be at the forefront of financial support.
Criticism of Loan Allocations to Industries and Politicians
During a media interaction on Thursday, KRRS leaders Chunappa Pujeri and Shashikant Guruji expressed their concerns regarding recent decisions made by the bank. While they acknowledged the bank's initiative to disburse loans totaling Rs 700 crore, they vehemently opposed the allocation of funds to industrial entities and defaulting entrepreneurs. Specifically, they highlighted a meeting held on Wednesday where it was decided to grant 297 loans to 12 factories, including the Sangama Cooperative Sugar factory.
The leaders singled out the approval of a Rs 27 crore loan to Sangama Sugar factory, a move they described as condemnable. They argued that BDCC Bank, which operates over 100 branches and provides essential services such as farm loans, crop loans, and gold loans, is fundamentally a farmers' institution. They pointed out that it is inappropriate for the bank to extend crores of rupees to sugar factories, especially when these entities are incurring losses.
Demands for Farmer-Centric Policies and Warning of Protests
Further intensifying their critique, the KRRS leaders strongly condemned the decision to sanction a Rs 123 crore loan to former MLA Sanjay Patil. They insisted that loans should not be provided to sugar factories burdened with debt and that the bank must avoid being undermined by political influences. In their statement, they emphasized the need for BDCC Bank to refocus its efforts on supporting the agricultural sector.
The leaders put forth several key demands to ensure fair treatment for farmers. They called for farmers to be given adequate time to repay existing loans and for new loans to be disbursed based on the actual needs of the farming community. They warned that if these demands are not met, they would resort to locking houses and offices as part of a protest movement. This stern warning underscores the urgency and seriousness of their grievances.
Other prominent figures present at the media briefing included Prem Chougala, Prakash Umarani, Shivanand Mekkalaki, and Shivanand Mugali, indicating broad support within the farmers' union for these demands. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between agricultural advocacy groups and financial institutions in Karnataka, with potential implications for rural economic policies and bank governance.
