Debabrata Saikia slams govt for 'not keeping' poll promise to waive microfinance loans unconditionally

MICROFINANCE LOAN WAIVER

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: "The government didn't keep their promise to waive the microfinance loans unconditionally," said leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia here on Saturday.

Saikia underlined that the MFIs (microfinance institutions) provided loans to women without following the RBI guidelines due to which scores of families were destroyed. "In 2019, I submitted a letter to the Governor urging his intervention to form an Act to control the MFIs. Later, I proposed a Private Bill in the Assembly to control the policies of the MFIs. Though discussions were held, the government didn't accept the proposal," said Saikia.

He underlined that on March 6, 2020, the then Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in this budget speech had announced Rs 500 crore to repay the loans of the MFIs.

"During his speech, he also announced that another package of Rs 500 crore will be introduced in the next budget session. However, we didn't notice how the funds were utilized. Later, on December 30, 2020, Minister Sarma introduced an Act to control the operations of the MFIs. Moreover, in the Assembly Polls 2021, he announced that the microfinance loans of women will be waived unconditionally. Due to this announcement, the government was voted back to power," said Saikia.

The leader stressed that the then FM and current Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma gave assurance to help those women who had taken loans from MFIs.

"The CM stated that a total loan of Rs 12,000 crore needs to be repaid to the MFIs. He also formed a committee headed by Minister Ashok Singhal to look after the issue. But now, the government has introduced several conditions to repay the loans. By introducing these conditions the government is trying to state that they cannot help the affected women. We will again raise this issue in the Assembly. We demand the government to respectfully implement their promise made to the women of the State," Saikia added.

Also Read: Micro-finance Loans: Assam Govt Announces Eligibility Criteria for Waiver