On Monday, women residents of M. Kallupatti in Peraiyur taluk, Madurai district, presented a petition to Collector M.S. Sangeetha, seeking action against the head of a women’s self-help group (SHG). The petition alleges that the SHG leader swindled money from various finance companies using the villagers’ names and documents.
Allegations of Financial Mismanagement
The petitioners claimed that the SHG head and her husband absconded with approximately ₹70 lakh obtained from finance companies through the villagers’ documents. P. Ayyammal, one of the petitioners, explained that last year, the SHG head approached them with a promise of securing low-interest loans from local finance companies where she was a customer.
Trust Misplaced
Believing the SHG head’s assurances, the villagers provided their identification documents, including ration cards, Aadhaar cards, and voter IDs. They were initially granted loans of ₹10,000 each. As they repaid these loans with interest, many sought additional loans of ₹20,000 each, which were also repaid as promised.
Deceptive Requests for Documents
The situation took a turn when the SHG head requested the villagers to submit their documents for acquiring loans to address an emergency. Trusting her, the villagers complied and some even deposited loan amounts directly into their bank accounts for her use.
Financial Repercussions
The trouble began when finance companies contacted the villagers seeking repayment for loans taken in their names. A.R. Vinoth, another villager, criticized the SHG head for exploiting their trust and using their documents to acquire substantial amounts of money. With the total loan amount potentially exceeding ₹70 lakh, there are fears among the villagers that they might be held accountable for repayment. Many villagers, being agricultural laborers, are concerned about their ability to manage such large sums.
