WAYANAD: Kerala Gramin Bank has deducted loan EMIs from emergency relief disbursed by state govt to those who survived the July 30 Wayanad landslides. The move has added to the shock of the survivors still grappling with their losses from the disaster that claimed over 230 lives and left over 100 missing.
The Centre holds a majority stake in Gramin Bank, 50% directly and another 35% through PSU Canara Bank; Kerala govt has a 15% stake. The Left-governed state had announced an emergency assistance of Rs 10,000. State cooperatives minister VN Vasavan termed the bank’s move “cruel”.
Many victims said loan EMIs of up to Rs 5,000 were deducted as soon as the relief amount was deposited in their accounts. Mini Mol, who had taken Rs 50,000 for construction of a house, said the bank took away Rs 3,000 from her aid.
Rajesh of Chooralmala, who lost his house, said the bank took an EMI of Rs 3,400 from the relief. “I am a dairy farmer. The landslide washed away my cattle shed and eight cows. We don’t have anything left. I was planning to use the (relief) amount to provide advance for a house to be taken on rent,” Rajesh said.
Minister Vasavan promised to raise the matter. “Even if the state-level bankers’ committee (SLBC) has not issued a formal directive in this regard, the bank branch manager could have approached the issue in a humanitarian manner at his own risk, which did not happen… (It) is definitely an indecent act; we will raise the issue with the SLBC,” Vasavan said.
KS Pradeep, general manager of SLBC, said he had contacted the chief of the Gramin Bank and she attributed the deductions to standing instructions in the accounts issued prior to the disaster.
Meanwhile, Wayanad deputy collector, officiating as CEO of district disaster management authority, has issued directives for Gramin Bank to return the money deducted from relief provided by government.
