Co-op society employee accused of ‘favouritism’

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Bathinda, March 14

The sarpanch of Kalyan Sukha village in the district and BKU (Sidhupur) members have sought action against an employee of a co-operative society for allegedly favouring his family members by waiving their, including himself, farm loans to the tune of Rs 3 lakh.

Kulwinder Singh, sarpanch of Kalyan Sukha village, along with members of the BKU (Sidhupur) shared this information during a press conference at the Bathinda Press Club on Thursday.

Addressing mediapersons, Kulwinder Singh said, “An employee of co-operative society, Kalyan Sukha village, has favoured his family members by waiving their farm loans of over Rs 3 lakh. The employee concerned owned more than 18 acres of land in the village and as per the farm debt waiver policy, he and his family members were not entitled to the farm loan waiver scheme.”

Kulwinder Singh said, “There are farmers in our village who have two to three acres of land, but their farm loan has not been waived till now. On the other hand, there is an employee of co-operative society who waived a loan payment of Rs 1,77,212 of his father, Rs 83,649 of his mother and Rs 46,212 of himself. In total, he waived farm loans of his family to the tune of Rs 3,07,073. We have submitted a complaint to the co-operative department and the Vigilance Bureau in this regard.”

Kulwinder said residents of his village had been raising concern over the waiving of the farm loan of the employee concerned while leaving out those who possessed comparatively smaller land holdings.

Baldev Singh Sandoha, president of the BKU (Sidhupur), said, “It raises a big question mark over the fair implementation of the farm loan waiver scheme of the state government when marginal farmers have been left out and those having larger land holdings are getting their farm loans waived. We want that a thorough probe must be conducted and appropriate legal/punitive action be taken against those found guilty in the matter. Moreover, the state government must ensure that farm loan of only deserving farmers must be waived.

Darshan Duggal, Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Department, Bathinda, said, “I have marked an inquiry into the matter and appropriate action will be taken once the final report would be submitted by the investigating officials of the department.”