Ruling partymen get a ‘golden opportunity’

An enquiry is under way into allegations that jewel loans were given with pre-dated receipts for waiver to ruling party workers clandestinely at a co-operative bank in Salem district. A purported video taken at the Valasaiyur co-operative bank at Ayodhyapattinam shows the staff working during night hours to issue jewel loans following government’s announcement on the waiver of loans availed by pledging less than six sovereigns of jewels. Meanwhile, a group of villagers from Valasaiyur, Pallipatty and Thailanur villages who have pledged their jewels to avail loans besieged the bank seeking to waive off their loans too. “The bank staff has committed fraud by waiving gold jewels loans by issuing pre-dated receipts. Also, the bank registers were fudged to serve their purpose. However, the loan waiver is yet to be done for many other genuine public,” said R Murthy, a villager. However, officials claimed that an inquiry is underway into the issue for further action. Similarly, members of a Self Help Group (SHG) alleged that they have lost an opportunity to avail the benefit of loan waiver for SHG’s due to delay in disbursement of loan by the KalvadangamCo-Operative Primary Agriculture Credit Society near Edappadi in Salem. The 12 members of the group have deposited Rs 10,000 each for a total of Rs 1.2 lakhs at the society several months ago to avail loan. Despite making the deposit seven months ago, the society delayed issuing the loan. The SHG members claimed that they ought to have been benefited by the government order, if they were provided with the loan on time. However, officials denied any delay and claimed that the SHG members failed to furnish proper documents. “If they have applied with proper documents, the bank would have given the loan and there is no cause for any delay,” said an official.