Himachal: An 80-yr-old reaches Vidhan Sabha, seeks relief from loan interest
His younger son developed gangrene in 2019 and got his legs amputated, daughter with mental disability
With mounting interest, failing health and two severely disabled children to care for, the 80-year-old is waiting for administrative intervention to rescue his family from financial distress. (Source: File) Narpat Ram, an 80-year-old farmer from Mandi’s Khadumn village, on Wednesday reached the Vidhan Sabha in Shimla where the Budget session is underway, to seek administrative intervention and relief from the mounting bank loan interest.
The farmer’s younger son, Hukam Chand (35), was rendered permanently disabled and was unable to work after he lost his legs to gangrene in 2019.
After which “the loan repayment was stopped and interest was accumulating… the loan has now ballooned to nearly Rs 10 lakh,” Narpat told The Indian Express.
“My younger son had started working as a daily wager after completing matriculation as the family’s financial condition did not allow higher education. In 2018, my elder son Lej Ram and I took a loan of around Rs 5 lakh from the Kangra Central Co-operative Bank to purchase a commercial vehicle so Hukam could earn a livelihood as a driver. However… Hukam developed gangrene.”
The family took him to multiple hospitals before he was taken to Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh.
“But doctors had to amputate both his legs — one in Shimla and the other in Chandigarh,” Narpat said.
Narpat’s daughter, Urmila (33), is also 90 per cent disabled and mentally challenged. Though the family receives financial assistance under the state government’s ‘Sahara Scheme’ for both his children, it is still insufficient. The Himachal government’s Sahara Scheme provides Rs 3,000 monthly to economically weaker patients suffering from ailments such as cancer, paralysis, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, thalassemia and other debilitating conditions.
Narpat, who barely owns five bighas of agricultural land, said the loan was mortgaged against his farmland. “I have written to several officials but received no relief. I have come to Shimla with hope,” he said, displaying the photographs of his disabled children.
He arrived in Shimla on Tuesday and stayed at a local gurdwara before managing to meet former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, who assured him of all the possible assistance on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a senior official of the Kangra Central Co-operative Bank told The Indian Express, the relief could be considered under existing policies. “There are provisions under the One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for loan waiver or restructuring. If the applicant submits a formal request to the concerned branch manager, the case will be examined.”
For Narpat, however, time is running out. With mounting interest, failing health and two severely disabled children to care for, the 80-year-old is waiting for administrative intervention to rescue his family from financial distress.
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