Kerala CM Demands Loan Waivers for Wayanad Landslide Victims

The Kerala government has voiced strong displeasure over banks deducting loans from landslide survivors in Wayanad. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged that these loans be written off, as the disaster has rendered lands unusable and many victims deceased. The CM stressed that extensions or interest relaxation were not viable solutions.

The Kerala government on Monday expressed strong displeasure over banks deducting monthly installments of loans from the accounts of landslide victims and survivors in Wayanad, and demanded that these loans be written off completely.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan argued that waiving these loans would not impose an unbearable burden on the banks and should be considered a necessary step. Addressing the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) meeting, Vijayan emphasized that extending repayment timelines or offering interest relaxation would not be a sufficient remedy for those in landslide-affected regions.

''Many of those who had taken the loans are deceased, and their land has become unusable due to the disaster,'' he pointed out. ''The only thing we can do is write off the entire loans taken by people in these affected areas.''

Recalling the devastating impact of the July 30 tragedy, Vijayan noted that many victims were farmers who lost their land and homes. Despite strong protests against banks like Kerala Gramin, which supposedly deducted relief funds given to survivors, Vijayan insisted that the banks should bear the cost of loan waivers on their own and not expect the government to repay these amounts.

Various political parties staged protests in front of Gramin Bank, and ultimately, the bank assured that no further EMIs would be deducted from relief funds.

(With inputs from agencies.)