Mysuru: Farmers from Hunsur and Periyapatna taluks staged a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Mysuru-Chamarajanagar District Central Co-operative (MCDCC) Bank in Mysuru, alleging that the bank has failed to sanction fresh loans even to farmers who have cleared their previous borrowings.
The protest was held on September 16 outside the MCDCC Bank headquarters at Nehru Circle on Ashoka Road, with farmers raising slogans against the bank management and demanding immediate action to address their concerns.
The protesting farmers said they depend on institutional credit to meet expenses related to cultivation and have been facing difficulties in securing fresh loans despite having repaid earlier loans.
Farmers demand immediate sanction of loans
According to the protesters, farmers who have cleared their previous loans are still being denied fresh credit by the bank.
They demanded that the MCDCC Bank immediately process and sanction fresh loans to eligible farmers, particularly those who require financial assistance for ongoing agricultural activities.
The farmers said they had planned their cultivation activities on the expectation that they would be able to access bank credit. They alleged that the delay or refusal to provide fresh loans had left several farming families in financial distress.
The protesters also said farmers were already facing difficulties because of inadequate rainfall and the resulting impact on agricultural activities.
Protesters raise concerns over bank’s functioning
During the demonstration, farmers levelled allegations against the functioning of the MCDCC Bank and expressed dissatisfaction with the way loan applications were being handled.
The protesters alleged that the bank was not providing fresh loans even to those who had cleared their earlier dues. They questioned the bank’s role in supporting farmers at a time when agricultural communities require access to institutional credit.
The allegations made during the protest have not been independently established in the report, and the bank’s response to the farmers’ claims was not included in the Star of Mysore report.
Farmers cite monsoon difficulties
The protesters also highlighted the difficulties caused by the monsoon situation.
According to the farmers, agricultural activities require significant expenditure on seeds, fertilisers, labour and other inputs. When access to institutional credit is delayed, farmers can face difficulties in meeting these expenses.
The farmers therefore urged the bank authorities to consider their applications and provide fresh loans to those who have fulfilled the required repayment conditions.
They said timely availability of credit was particularly important for farmers dealing with crop-related uncertainties.
Warning of extreme step
During the demonstration, the protesting farmers expressed severe distress and reportedly warned that they could take the extreme step of consuming poison if their problems were not resolved.
The warning was made in the context of their complaints regarding access to fresh agricultural loans and the financial pressure they said they were facing.
The farmers urged the authorities to intervene immediately and prevent the situation from worsening.
Former MLA K Mahadev attends protest
Former MLA K. Mahadev, former MyMUL president Prasanna and others were present during the demonstration.
The participation of the former public representatives and other supporters added to the pressure on the bank authorities to respond to the farmers’ demands.
The protesters continued to raise slogans against the bank management and called for immediate measures to resolve the issue.
Demand for support to farming community
The farmers’ protest comes amid continuing concerns among agricultural communities over input costs, rainfall conditions and access to institutional credit.
Co-operative banks play an important role in providing agricultural credit to farmers, particularly in rural areas. The protesters argued that farmers who have repaid their earlier loans should not face difficulties in obtaining fresh credit when they remain eligible under the applicable lending conditions.
The farmers from Hunsur and Periyapatna therefore called for their loan applications to be considered without further delay.
The demonstration also highlighted the broader financial pressures faced by farming families when crop conditions and access to credit become uncertain.
Farmers seek intervention from bank authorities
The protesters have called upon the MCDCC Bank authorities to look into their complaints and take steps to ensure that eligible farmers receive fresh loans.
For the farmers, the immediate demand is for access to credit so they can continue their agricultural activities without being pushed towards additional financial distress.
The bank’s response to the allegations and the number of farmers affected by the reported delay were not specified in the report.
The issue is now expected to remain under the attention of farmers’ organisations and local representatives as the protesters seek a resolution from the bank.