Death wish by 900 MP farmers

Hoshangabad, MP, Dec 14 (UNI) About 900 farmers from 11 villages in Hoshangabad district have sought the Collector's permission to die as they were shown as defaulters despite clearing the loan taken from the Rampur Cooperative Society.

The farmers, who procured loan for seeds and fertilisers in 2003-04, have sent a letter to the Collector protesting that they were being made scapegoats declaring them as defaulters while the majority had repaid the loan with interest.

Mr Ashutosh Sharan Tiwari, a farmer of Rampur, said the bank had not made proper entries. There was no proper entry of deposits and loan repayments by which many innocent farmers were shown as defaulters and their assets impounded by the local administration.

Mr Bhaiyyalal Yadav of Pahanvarki village said his tractor was impounded despite repayment of entire loan.

Interpolation in accounts showed that a loanee availed 100 bags of fertiliser, while in fact he took only 10 bags.

District Registrar Cooperatives, who conducted a probe, said the bungling was to the tune of several lakh of rupees.

Hoshangabad Collector Faiz Ahmed Kidwai directed the police to register an FIR and take action against the guilty, while the District Cooperative Bank General Manager also set up a committee to inquire into the matter.

UNI XC-SP MQA DS1442