Farmers in India are among the most affected ones due to COVID-19 pandemic. Their troubles are only increased by a system that is only apathetic, but also does little to be helpful during these precarious times.
A farmer in Karnataka had to walk 15 kilometres to reach the bank, after he had got a call from Canara Bank branch at a nearby small town, Nittur, telling him to pay back the loan of 3 rupees 46 paise.
With no public transport, he had to make the journey from his Baruve village of Shimoga district to the bank, on foot, according to a report in News18. Amade Lakshminarayana, an areca grower, had taken an agriculture loan of Rs 35000, a few months back. Out of the amount, the government had waived off 32000. He had repaid the remaining 3000 to the bank.
The bank officials had called him, telling him to urgently come to the bank and repay the loan. Lakshminarayana panicked and had little option, but to make the long walk to the bank, only to find he owed the bank only Rs 3.46.
When the bank called me to rush urgently. I panicked. There is no bus service due to lockdown. I don’t have any vehicle, not even a bicycle. I reached the bank on foot to clear my outstanding amount of paltry Rs 3 and 46 paise. The bank’s inhuman act has hurt me”, he was quoted telling News18.
The report also said that the local Canara Bank manager L Pingva claimed that due to the auditing that was underway in the branch and to renew his loan, Lakshminarayana had to clear the outstanding amount of Rs 3 and 46 paisa. They also needed his signature, it added.
