Nanded, Oct 26 Maharashtra minister Meghna Sakore-Bordikar on Monday directed officials to curb coercive loan recovery by private moneylenders and ensure strict compliance with the Reserve Bank guidelines, warning that action would be taken against institutions violating the rules.
The Minister of State for public health and family welfare, water supply and sanitation, energy, and women and child development, attended a review meeting at the Nanded collectorate.
Amid drought, she said essential drinking water measures should not be delayed due to a shortage of funds. Officials were asked to use district annual plan allocations and legislators’ funds to take up necessary works.
Emphasising groundwater recharge and rainwater conservation, Bordikar called for effective implementation of water conservation measures, including the Jal Tara initiative.
She asked district-level officers and employees to begin rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge measures at their own homes to set an example for the public.
The minister said crop loan disbursement should be prioritised to prevent farmers from facing financial difficulties amid the possibility of drought.
Expressing concern over recovery pressure exerted by private moneylenders and microfinance institutions, Bordikar asked tehsildars and block development officers to visit local areas, interact with residents and understand their difficulties.
Referring to the death of a farmer allegedly linked to pressure from microfinance loan recovery, she termed such incidents serious and asked the concerned authorities to take preventive measures to ensure that they did not recur.
“Financial institutions should be strictly instructed to follow RBI guidelines, and officials must ensure that borrowers are not subjected to coercive recovery practices,” she said.
The minister visited the families of deceased farmers Shankar Kshirsagar at Borgaon Telang, who committed suicide on the farm, and Chandrakant Shinde at Malkautha, whose body was found hanging at a finance company’s office in Nanded, and offered condolences.
She assured the families that the government would extend all possible assistance and facilitate benefits under eligible welfare schemes.
(PTI News)
