Dimapur, Aug. 17 (EMN): The Business Association of Nagas (BAN) has declared that it will take up with the authorities issues concerning what the organisation alleged were banks harassing beneficiaries of a scheme.
The BAN conducted a meeting with ‘aggrieved applicants’ of the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), on Saturday in Dimapur. The organisation issued a press release on August 17 to the media.
“The meeting was necessitated as BAN was receiving many complaints from applicants who have successfully cleared the interview but their loan sanction was delayed by banks for different reasons,” the press release stated.
“24 PMEGP applicants attended the meeting. BAN was awestruck to know the mental, physical and financial harassment meted out to the applicants by various banks even after clearing the selection process conducted by the government.”
The organisation narrated a case quoting unnamed applicants: “…she was asked by a private bank to deposit Rs 10 lakh as collateral for a Rs 15 lakh project. In another case, a government undertaking bank made a pregnant lady run from pillar to post and in the end refused her the financial assistance.
In another case, the BAN stated, a “youth with a brilliant idea” after receiving the notice that he has been selected for the loan made a trip to Delhi to get industry experience.
“Only to find out after he came back that his project has been declared ‘not feasible’ by the bank,” the organisation stated.
‘BAN fails to understand why applicants are made to go through a lengthy process of project making, interview, entrepreneurship development programmes etc only to be shown the door by the banks.’
The organisation stated that the scheme holds ‘great promise’ and can empower many upcoming entrepreneurs.
“Let it not be downgraded to just another lowly government scheme. BAN is committed to help genuine applicants of the scheme get what they deserve and will take up the matter with the concerned authorities,” the statement assured.
