Agartala, Jun 1 (UNI) While demanding a package of relief for poor and depressed categories of people, the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee in a letter to the Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb asked to suspend the payment of equated monthly installment of loans at least for next few months to different banks and financial companies.
The Congress Vice President and veteran leader Tapas De pointed out that lakhs of entrepreneurs and youths have been doing their small business with the loan from different nationalised banks and other micro-financial institutions like Bandhan, Ujjiban and Asha. But they are finding it extremely difficult to pay regular installments due to Covid pandemic.
A large number of youths bought battery-operated rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and various other transport on loan. The women have taken loans from microfinance companies to run petty business and vending activities at comparatively high rates, getting no other alternative. However, due to Covid Curfew in a pandemic situation earnings from the transport sector and petty business have stopped, but the microfinance companies have continuously been pressured to pay the installment weekly.
He stated earlier, there was an announcement that nationalised banks would suspend the installment payment on loan but it was not followed. Banks in many cases were found to charge a penalty considering non-payment of regular installment as late payment.
And, microfinance companies didn’t pay any heed to the government decision. The situation became worse for the last one and half months due to Covid curfew and restrictions, which is believed to be continued at least for another month.
“The state government must intervene in the issue and save the poor people from financial burden. In some cases, the loan takers have committed suicide following pressure from the microfinance companies. It was expected from the state government to address this well-known issue when imposing restrictions due to the surge of Covid. Unfortunately, as of now, the BJP government in Tripura is completely mum on it,” De said.
The realisation of tuition fees, bus fare and miscellaneous charges from students by privately managed schools be stopped with immediate effect considering the fact that the schools have stopped functioning for last two months and except for the salaried people, the income of all others reduced substantially due to corona situation, De underlined.
The letter also demanded sanction of ration goods to all poor families and a cash grant of Rs 6000. A package relief measure needs to be announced for transport workers and added to undertake steps to assist the farmers and vegetable sellers who are finding it increasingly difficult to sell their products in retail markets.
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