Hapur: In a strict move to ensure timely loan distribution, Chief Development Officer (CDO) Himanshu Gautam placed 33 bank employees under house arrest inside the meeting hall and stationed police officers at the entrance. The purpose was to clear months-old pending work related to loan applications. By 5 PM, most of the employees had completed their tasks, with only three employees failing to do so.
Loan Scheme: Up to ₹5 Lakh Without Guarantee
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to prioritize loan distribution to young entrepreneurs to support employment opportunities. Under this initiative, banks are offering loans of up to ₹5 lakh without requiring any collateral. To facilitate this, district administrations are organizing camps to collect applications from eligible youth. After verification by the Industry Department, the applications are forwarded to banks for processing.
Banks Delaying Loan Approvals
Despite the government’s clear instructions, banks were slow in processing applications. This delay became a concern, especially since CM Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to visit Meerut on March 9, where he is expected to distribute loan cheques to 100 young entrepreneurs. Even after multiple warnings, many bank employees failed to cooperate in executing this scheme efficiently.
To address the issue, CDO Himanshu Gautam and District Magistrate (DM) Prerna Sharma had instructed banks two days earlier to meet their targets. However, during a review meeting at the Collectorate auditorium on Friday, it was found that most bank officers had not completed their assigned work.
Strict Action Taken: Employees Confined Until Work Was Done
Frustrated with the slow progress, CDO Gautam and DM Sharma ordered the employees to remain inside the meeting hall until they finished their work. The back door was locked, and police were stationed at the front door to prevent anyone from leaving without completing their tasks.
Starting from 1 PM, most employees worked diligently and managed to clear their backlog by 5 PM. However, officials confirmed that employees from HDFC, ICICI, and IDBI banks failed to complete their work.
Official Statements
- Deputy Commissioner of Industries, Khushboo Singh, noted that despite the pressure, some bank employees still failed to process applications on time.
- District Lead Bank Manager, Rajiv Gupta, argued that some officials did not fully understand the loan scheme, and that the pressure on banks was excessive.
- CDO Himanshu Gautam, however, defended the action, stating that the applications were thoroughly reviewed before being forwarded. He added that the employees were released only after 100 loan applications were successfully processed.
This firm action by the district administration highlights the government’s commitment to speeding up employment-focused loan disbursement and ensuring timely assistance to young entrepreneurs.
