Will Kudla have More Street Vendors once ‘Badavara Bandhu’ Loan Scheme is Launched?
Mangaluru: “Badavara Bandhu”- I am not talking about the 1976 Kannada film directed by Vijay, staring the popular actor Rajkumar and Jayamala who were in the lead roles- but this report about ‘Badavara Bandhu” is about a loan scheme that will be launched by the State government in the nearest future, exclusively for the street vendors, as announced by State cooperation Minister Bandeppa Kashempur during a press meet on Wednesday in Mangaluru. Seems like a “Deepavali Gift” from CM H D Kumaraswamy’s govt to these Street vendors!
Mangaluru is already seeing hundreds/thousands of street vendors who are creating a havoc and inconveniences to the pedestrians and motorists, occupying the prime spots on the footpath and side of the streets, making it hard for people to walk and motorists to park their vehicles. Imagine now with the government introducing the “Badavara Bandhu” loan scheme, there are very good chances Mangaluru will see a rise in street vendors, making it a worse scenario than it is now. And what so funny is that, one one hand Mangaluru City Corporation every now and then does surprise raids on these street vendors, thereby evicting them and even demolishing their make shift shops. So what’s the fun in government giving loan to these vendors, when “MCC Tiger” keeps prowling on them, and destroying all their belongings during crack downs.
Oh well, I bet this new loan scheme is nothing but a vote bank tactics as elections are near, and the politicians can’t lose the large number of votes from these street vendors- so instead of evicting them who are doing business illegally, the politicians are supporting them illegally by such loan offers. On one side we have laws, and on the other side, the laws are broken with the support from the netas. In an effort to rescue the street vendors from the clutches of private money lenders, who charge exorbitant interest rates on the loans lend to these vendors, this government loan scheme will come in handy without any hardship for the vendors.
According to minister Bandeppa telling the media, where he said, “Private money lenders lend Rs 700 in the morning and charge an interest rate of Rs 300 by evening, which is way too much. We have decided that via mobile banks, the department will disburse loans in prominent markets. The street vendor repays the loan after the day’s sales. Through this initiative of Badavara Bandhu loan scheme, nearly 5000 Bengaluru Street Vendors, 3,000 in other city corporation areas, and 1000 in district headquarters would benefit from the scheme. About 53,000 street vendors will benefit from this scheme”.
Speaking further on other loans, the minister said, “For self-help group (SHG) members, Rs 10 lakh would be released under the Kayaka Scheme. As much as Rs 5 lakh is interest free, and the rest will be charged 4% interest, which is very reasonable. Also in DK, Rs 713 crore crop loans taken from cooperative societies would be waved. During ruling of CM Siddaramaiah, Rs 380 crore was waived in DK district. The government has written to nationalized banks seeking information on the crop loans. When it is received, all the nationalized banks will also be waved”.
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