House in Vilangad, which was partially destroyed during landslide. | Photo Credit: K. Ragesh
The moratorium announced by the state government regarding the repayment of the loan and measures to restore income to support farmers affected by last year’s landslides in Vilangad was reportedly ignored by part of private bankers and financiers in the Kozhikode district. Although the government order is valid until March 2026 that measures are taking place and ignore the public protest of beer.
The upset farmers looking for the support of various agricultural organizations to deal with this matter with higher authorities complain that neither the government nor the district administration seem to be aware of the hostile action. They warn that it is likely that low -income families will soon affect rural areas such as Vanimel, Valayam, Chekkiyad, Thieor, Thuneri, Edacheri, Naripatta and Nadapuram. According to them, most private bankers and financiers resist the government order and claim that the moratorium only applies to banks of the government sector.
In response to the fears of villagers, some important agricultural organizations decided to initiate an indefinite protest in front of banking companies that proceed with measures for renewal. It is said that more forums and action committees of local farmers are expected to join the protest if bankers refuse to follow government instructions. Kozhak’s Congress officials in Kozhikode, who openly criticized bankers’ move, stressed that the moratorium renowned by the government of March 15, 2025 should be extended to all eligible people in six villages in Vilangad and its surroundings. He claims that bankers’ events came at a time when farmers were already fighting because of “unsatisfactory assistance” from the state government.
“The moratorium was announced on the recommendation of the Committee at the district level, chaired by the district collector. All bankers have legal responsibility for compliance without excuses,” said former official We Farm, settlers forum in the Kozhikode district.
Johnson Kulathinkal, General Secretary of the State Kisan Janat, said that the government should at least announce a six -month interest moratorium for all types of loans used by farmers to support the ongoing rehabilitation process in areas affected by landslides. He also claimed that the cooperative banks in the Kozhikode district also initiated measures to recover against farmers and ignored their financial crisis.
Published – August 10, 2025 20:10
