BELAGAVI, 4 FEB

A 66-year-old farmer Shivanappa Dharmatti from Alagavadi in Raibag taluk ended his life by consuming poison at his home on Tuesday. The incident comes amid government’s move to plan an ordinance to stop the 'torture' of the poor by microfinance companies in the name of 'loan recovery'.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, "Our government will not allow microfinance companies to take the law into their own hands and torture the poor using hooligans. We will give more power to the police to handle this”.

He said, "Many FIRs have been filed against microfinance companies in Belagavi, Bidar, Mysuru, and Ramanagara. The chief minister and the cooperative ministers have already issued stern warnings in this regard.”

 According to Belagavi Superintendent of Police, Bhimashankar Guled, Shivanappa had borrowed Rs 10 lakh from various microfinance companies to fund his wife's cancer treatment. Tragically, the relentless harassment from loan recovery agents became unbearable.

Family members reported that recovery staff had visited their home the previous day, shouting loudly and persistently demanding repayment. Shivanappa, who managed a small agricultural plot, struggled to meet his loan obligations due to his wife's health issues and the subsequent decline in crop yields. Beside him was found a bottle of pesticide.

This is not an isolated case; just last month, a woman who faced similar financial pressures was found dead hanging from a tree near a national highway. In a separate incident on Tuesday in Haveri district, 47-year-old farmer Nagesh Pavadeppar attempted to take his own life after feeding poison to his two children, having been harassed by loan recovery agents. Thankfully, all three are now out of danger. Dadafir Tiluvalli, a 32-year-old engaged in the areca nut business, also attempted suicide after facing similar pressures. Legal action is being considered against the offending finance companies. 

(Suicide is not the solution. Help is available. Please call Tele Manas at 14416, SAHAI at 080-25497777 for support)