Gramin Bank faces flak for deducting relief money from account of Wayanad landslide survivors

Kalpetta: Various youth organizations took to the streets on Monday to protest against the inhumane actions of Kerala Gramin Bank, which deducted monthly instalments of loans from the relief funds allocated to landslide victims in the Mundakkai-Chooralmala region. The amount was deducted after the Kerala government deposited financial aid in the survivors' accounts.

The bank's Kalpetta regional office was besieged by DYFI and Youth Congress activists.

A scuffle broke out between the protesters and the police. The DYFI started protest at 7:30 am. Soon, Youth Congress-Youth League workers also joined in the protest. Some activists bypassed the police and advanced. DYFI members protested by sitting in front of the office.

The bank seized the amount from the survivors as soon as the money reached their accounts. 

The amount was recovered despite the assurance of the state bankers' committee and the government that the bank loans would not have to be repaid immediately. 

As the incident became controversial, Collector D R Meghashree, who is also the chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority, issued an order directing to return the seized amount from the Rs 10,000-relief money offered to the affected people.