CPI-ML rally in Punjab seeks relief for rural women in debt

PATIALA: Leaders of CPI-ML (Liberation), along with a large number of women, on Thursday took out an ‘Aurat Karza Mukti Rally’ here to highlight the case of poor women, especially in rural areas, in debt and demanded waiver of their loans.
In the state-level rally, the protesters, who had gathered at Puda Ground, claimed that a large number of women are reeling under the debts of private microfinance companies that levy hefty interest.
The loans are given to self-help groups of women that comprise around 20 women and each woman is provided Rs 25,000, said CPI-ML (Liberation) state member secretary Bhagwant Samao.
Samao said after the first loan of Rs 25,000 is repaid, these microfinance companies offer second and third loans of up to Rs 50,000 to the same applicant and charge heavy interest.
“During the lockdown, the poor suffered the most. The government had waived loans to the tune of Rs 68,700 crore to the corporates and industrialists for having faced a setback due to the lockdown, but the poor were given nothing. We demand loan waiver for these women in rural areas, who are facing debt burden. We also demand revocation of farm acts, which are against the farming community. Besides, the labour laws in the country also need to be amended,” said Samao.