Accounts of farmers frozen despite loan repayment, say KRRS leaders

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Farmers leaders have complained to the State government that some banks have frozen their accounts, despite them settling all dues.

“Most farmers who had opted for One-Time Settlement Scheme to pay off their loans are finding that their accounts remain frozen. They are unable to transact with their accounts. They are unable to withdraw money received in the form of MGNREGA wages nor make payments. This is causing great inconvenience to farmers,” they said in a memorandum to the State government.

“When some farmers complained to bank officers, the latter pleaded helplessness. They said that these steps are being initiated at the national level where all bank accounts with dues have been blocked using their PAN and Aadhaar numbers. They advised farmers interested in continuing banking services to open new accounts or link their existing accounts to Aadhaar cards. These are not easy to follow, as most farmers do not have multiple accounts and bank officials are tracing the Aadhaar and PAN numbers,” farmers said.

Leaders of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene have signed the memorandum, along with some farmers from Kadoli village.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Sugarcane Growers Association leaders have also submitted a list of demands before the Union and State governments. They have urged the Union government not to make the Farmers Identification Number mandatory for purchase of fertiliser, to stop privatisation of power supply to irrigation pumpsets, government intervention to see that sugar factories settle all dues to farmers, increase in Fair and Remunerative Price for sugarcane and issuing diesel at subsidised prices.

Vice-president of Karnataka Sugarcane Growers Association Suresh Patil has warned that a State-wide protest will be staged if the demands are not met.