SILCHAR, May 2 � The �fast unto death� protest by the deprived Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) beneficiaries over the last four days opposite the UCO bank, Rongpur branch premises was called off on Saturday after the assurance from Pradip Paul, manager of UCO bank Nazirpatty branch here that the bank will give loans to the needy under special provision on priority basis.
As many as 27 beneficiaries of PMEGP scheme for the year 2014-15 resorted to protest after being deprived of their loans by the UCO bank Rongpur branch. Sourab Deb, a loan seeker said that after all the preliminary processes and paper works from the District Industries and Commerce Centre (DICC), they were categorised under the UCO bank branches at Rongpur and Nazirpatty. In the words of the protesters, all the fuss is due to the blatant rejection by Jyotsna Das, manager UCO bank Rongpur branch to give the loans citing fake excuses. �Even though we have received verbal assurance from the bank manager we are happy at their response,� Sourab said on behalf of the protesting beneficiaries. He informed that the Governing Body Kalpataru Institute of Entrepreneurship NGO, Probha NGO, All Assam Minority Students� Union and All Assam Bengali Youth Students� Federation has expressed solidarity towards their cause.
Pradip Paul said that he had met the protesters and convinced them that the bank will make all the efforts to clear loans on special provision with cooperation from the District Industries and Commerce Centre (DICC) Cachar. �The applicants said they will have five to six applications from each of the two branches. The bank will try to clear these loans at the earliest,� Paul was quoted as saying.
Interestingly, Gautam Das, general manager DICC said that the beneficiaries will have to submit fresh applications for the year 2015-16 session since the present session for loans under any scheme has expired. �The DICC has no authority to extend the subsidy period. The beneficiaries will have to submit fresh applications for the next session on which the district level task force will make the approvals. Thereafter the loans will be given on special provisions, Das maintained. In this context, Paul clarified that even if the beneficiaries submit fresh applications, they will not be deprived of loans but was quick to admit that the bank is not capable to clear bulk applications for now. It is to be mentioned that the Cachar district administration is likely to hold a meeting with the protesters and the bank officials on Tuesday to discuss the issue. It is also learnt that a magisterial probe will be conducted by the district administration on the allegations of harassment meted out to the applicants while pursuing their loans.
