Keonjhar: Discontent is brewing among the people who have been duped by chit fund firms in this district. Facing absolute misery, they have little hope of getting their money back.
The government had set up a corpus fund, but not a single chit fund victim had got back his/her money.
Although the exact number of people duped by chit fund firms is not known, their number could be around a lakh.
Thousands of people were tricked into investing their money in around 40 chit fund companies like Seashore, Micro Leasing, Rose Valley, Basil International and Innovative.
Pramila Patra, a resident of Badbal in Sadar block said, “I had invested Rs 22,000 in Rose Valley, and I have the deposit certificate. I came to know that only Rs 200 has come to the tehsil office for me.”
This is the case with many other victims. Only negligible amounts have been sent to tehsil offices to pay to the victims.
The chit fund victims alleged that their documents were sent to Collectors. The Collectors sent the documents to tehsil offices and revenue inspectors are supposed to check the records, verify the claim and pay compensation. But this is not being done in Keonjhar, they said.
Prasanna Mohant, another victim said, “I had deposited Rs 5.30 lakh with Micro Leasing and Funding. I have no hope of getting it back, although the company’s CMD has promised to pay. Our money is stuck in chit fund companies, but the government is not doing anything. In 2014, I had problems in raising money for the cancer treatment of my wife.”
Daktar Mohant, president of the Keonjhar Zilla Arthika Kshyatigrasta Manch, said the government has not published a single white paper on the chit fund scam.
“All documents were given to the Collector. Those who deposited Rs 22,000 will get Rs 200. RIs are delaying repayment in the name of document verification. The election code of conduct will be in place in a few days, and the money will not be disbursed. We will stage a Satyagraha,” he warned.
Prasanna Kumar Mohant, another chit fund victim, made it clear, “The Chief Minister and other leaders attended programmes of the chit fund company. This made us trust the company and we invested hoping to get back the money at the time of my daughter’s marriage or to do some business in future. Six years have passed. The government says it will pay back the money, but nothing is available. I think the government has been giving the assurance for political dividends.”
Collector Ashish Thakare said steps were being taken to pay back the money to all depositors.
“We are collecting the details of bank accounts, bonds and receipts given by Rose Valley to depositors. Money will be paid into their accounts in four to five days. About 15,000 depositors will get back their money,” he said.
PNN
