Alappuzha: The family of Kuttanad rice farmer KG Prasad, who committed suicide due to debt, is now facing the threat of property forfeiture. A forfeiture notice has been served to Prasad’s family, demanding the repayment of outstanding dues amounting to Rs 17,600 within five days. The notice, issued by the Kerala State Development Corporation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, warns of property attachment if the family fails to comply.
In August 2022, Prasad’s wife, Omana, borrowed a self-employment loan (NMDFC) of Rs 60,000 from the same corporation. While a partial repayment of Rs 15,000 was made, the remaining amount faced an 11-month delay. The notice specifies that failure to settle the outstanding sum within a five-day period will result in the confiscation of their house and yard, spanning five cents.
Recently, KG Prasad committed suicide because he was not able to get a loan to start farming. Despite repaying a previous agricultural loan through a one-time settlement scheme in 2021, Prasad faced rejection when applying for a new loan. The denial was reportedly based on his Paddy Receipt Sheet (PRS) arrears and a low CIBIL score. Due to this, Prasad took his own life by consuming insecticide. A suicide note written by Prasad also came out, which pointed fingers at the Kerala government and banks as reasons for his death. Following Prasad’s death, the family is living with the help of relatives and friends. Prasad was an active member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and had served as the president of the BMS Thakazhi unit.
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