Kalaburagi: Minister of IT-BT, Rural Development, and Panchayat Raj, Priyank Kharge, expressed dissatisfaction with reports of bank officials utilizing the 'Gruha Laxmi' scheme money for loan recovery of the beneficiaries.
Kharge, who is also the district in-charge minister of Kalaburagi, voiced disappointment that the scheme, designed by the state government for the economic empowerment of women, with a provision of Rs 2,000 for the woman head of the family, was not reaching its intended recipients. He addressed this concern during the quarterly KDP meeting on Wednesday.
"While visiting Tarakaspet village in Chittapur taluk on Tuesday, a woman reported that the Rs 2,000 received under the scheme was utilized by the bank manager, Girish, of Krishna Grameena Bank for loan recovery," Kharge said.
Taking a firm stance on the matter during the meeting, Minister Priyank Kharge instructed lead bank manager Sadashiv Ratrikar to initiate measures to transfer the money back to the beneficiaries' accounts.
MLC Tippannappa Kamaknoor broadened the discussion, highlighting that such loan recovery practices extended beyond the guarantee scheme, encompassing various compensations, including those for farmers' suicides.
He emphasized the need to curb these practices, citing instances not only in Tarakaspet but also in Hebbal and Kalagi, where bank officials neglected the poor and Dalits.
Joining the conversation, MLA BR Patil suggested convening a meeting of lead bank managers under the chairmanship of the chief secretary of the state, with government intervention to resolve the problem.
