Farmers ask banks not to attach properties for loan default

Farmers vehemently opposed attachment of their properties given as surety by the banks for loan default as they were reeling under severe drought. The RDO asked them to wait for another seven days to arrive at a solution. 

In the recent farmers’ grievance meeting, they informed Tiruchy Collector KS Palanisamy that banks have started to send legal notices for attaching their properties for loan default. The farmers demanded the Collector to direct the banks not to send such notices due to the crop failure. They also complained that the banks were threatening them. The Collector arranged for a peace talk on Saturday. Representatives from all nationalised banks and private banks and the farmers’ association office bearers participated in the meeting. 

As soon as the meeting commenced, the farmers maintained their demand for non-attachment of their properties. However, the bankers refused and stressed that there has been an option of such recovery and so they have been acting upon it. Heated arguments erupted between the farmers and the bankers. The bankers wanted 15-day time to give a reply on the issue, but the farmers demanded an immediate announcement. The RDO intervened and asked them to wait for 15 days. Soon, the farmers pressed in unison for an early settlement. Later, the RDO proposed a window of seven days and the farmers accepted it. 

Meanwhile, on Saturday the Ariyalur Court ordered a private firm to return the tractor it seized for loan default to the kin A Alagar. The young farmer committed suicide in 2016 owing to the pressure given to him by the firm to repay the loan he availed of to buy the tractor. 

Around 3,000 farmers’ association office-bearers across the nation are expected to converge again at Jantar Mantar in Delhi again on May 21. According to P Ayyakannu, the state president of Desiya Thennindiya Nadhigal Inaippu sangam, 12 leaders from farmers’ associations from Tamil Nadu have planned to start for Delhi on May 18. “More than 3,000 leaders drawn from across the nation have expressed their willingness to participate. We will form a national body and fight for the farmers’ rights,” Ayyakannu added.