In a shocking incident from Aranji village under Ganijang panchayat in Bhadrak district’s rural police station area, a young woman was brutally assaulted by members of a women’s self-help group over unpaid loan instalments following her mother’s demise.
The victim, Monalisa, alleges that her late mother, Manoroma Mohapatra, was a member of the village self-help group and had borrowed Rs 70,000. Manoroma passed away in July due to paralysis. Since then, Monalisa had been diligently repaying the monthly instalments of Rs 2,830 to the group.
According to regulations, upon the death of a group member, insurance coverage should absolve the family from further payments. Monalisa submitted her mother’s death certificate to the lending institution to claim the insurance. However, the group members continued to demand the pending instalments. This led to escalating tensions.
When Monalisa refused further payments, citing the insurance clause, the group members and their families allegedly attacked her. The assault occurred in the village street right in front of her home. It left Monalisa seriously injured, and she is currently undergoing treatment at the Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital.
A complaint has been lodged at the Bhadrak Rural Police Station, detailing the incident. Efforts to reach the accused group members for their response were unsuccessful.
This case highlights ongoing issues with microfinance practices in rural areas, where disputes over loans can escalate into violence, underscoring the need for improved awareness and enforcement of insurance policies within self-help groups.
