Loans to mobiles: Hopes bring thousands to CM’s meet venue
: Beneficiaries at a public meeting venue here sat on chairs having forty winks, as they waited for the chief minister since 10 in the morning. While some waited for receiving loanwaiver certificates, others were under an impression of getting loans once they attended the meeting. Sukharam from Bilwada district came with hopes of getting a loan of ₹50,000 sanctioned.
“I applied for loan 4 months ago, which was cancelled. Last month I was told that loans were waived. How can the loans be waived if they were not sanctioned for many like me? We were made to apply for loans again 15 days ago and were told that once we attend this public meeting, they would be sanctioned.”
Others who were informed of getting their loans waived eagerly waited for hours for the chief minister to arrive. Goparam Devasi from Malkosani in Jodhpur had her eyes on the stage, since she was told that the ₹50,000 loan she took to buy a buffalo will be waived by the CM once she attends the meeting.
“I was told nearly 15 days ago that my loan has been waived. Although I repaid ₹8,000, the rest along with the interest has been waived off. I have been waiting here since 10 am and I am afraid that if the CM does not come, my
JAIPUR
loan will not be waived,” said Goparam. Many like her seemed to have been assured of getting their loans waived as soon as the CM arrived around 2.15 pm.
Hopes brought in many others to the venue, as mobile phones and tricycles were distributed to differently abled beneficiaries. Anjali and Bharati were visually impaired school students who were provided with mobile phones equipped with talking software. “Our families had mobile phones equipped with talking software, which we used. But, these would be our own mobiles. We can use them to facilitate our studies. Even as we are at the venue since 11 am, it’s worth the wait,” said Anjali hold- ing the pack of smart phone as she was getting clicked by the cameras around.
The CM handed over keys of motorised tricycles given to the differently abled. While some knew how to drive the vehicle, others claimed that they would quickly learn to drive.
Ruksana from Jotwada sat on the motorised tricycle posing for the cameras as she said she will no longer have to wait for others to drive her to college. “I won’t be confined to home now. Neither will I need anybody else to drive me around for outdoor chores. I am confident that I will learn to drive this vehicle within 15 days,” said Ruksana. The beneficiaries seemed to be happy by getting even minimal amounts being waived. Krishan Avtar from Tonk was present at the venue since ₹2,500 penalty on him charged by the bank for delays in repaying the loan was waived off. “I took a loan for ₹50,000 to set up my shop for computer hardware. I repaid the loan, only that the bank charged me ₹2,500 as a penalty for the delays which is waived off now,” said Krishan Avtar.
Many beneficiaries from Jaisalmer came to the venue wearing similar white T-shirts, with ‘Jaisalmer’ printed on them. Asked about the outfits, they said they were told that nobody would be allowed to enter the venue without wearing them.