Government strikes 5-point agreement with agitating loan-sharking victims

 Work initiated to permanently solve  problem of loan shark victims: PM

Kathmandu, Apr. 1

The government has signed a 5-point agreement with the victims of the loan sharking. Negotiation teams of the both sides have come to an agreement to set up a commission to solve the problems of the victims of the loan sharking.

The commission to be formed as per the provisions of the Inquiry Commission Act - 2026 BS, will be formed by the next Cabinet meeting as announced by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda in the morning on Saturday during a meeting with the victims.

The government is preparing to have the Inspector General of Nepal Police and the Attorney General as members in the commission, which will be headed by a former judge or commissioner, and the structure of the commission will be in all districts.

The two sides have also agreed to form a district-level coordination and facilitation committee under the coordination of the Chief District Officer to address the regular complaints of the victims of loan sharking.

With this agreement the agitating victims have called off the programmes of protests.

Earlier, in the meeting with the victims, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ had said that the government has initiated works to permanently solve the problem of the victims of loan sharks.

"The government is serious about ending loan sharking that is existing as a remnant of feudalism," PM Prachanda said to the loan shark victims in a meeting with them on Saturday morning at his residence in Baluwatar.

He said that the existing law is insufficient for a long-term solution to a problem like this, so the government is in a process of formulating a new law which is in its final stage.

In addition to this, he said that the process of forming a high-level commission with judicial powers to solve the problems of the victims has also progressed.

"A high-level commission will be formed by the decision of the Cabinet regarding loan sharking and addressing the problems of the victims. The commission will go in action immediately and can even use judicial powers. That process is already underway," informed the Prime Minister.

According to a statement issued by his secretariat, he has instructed the commission to act like a rapid action force, and to call people, issue warrants and take action. It should not act like the commissions formed before that just would assess the crisis, submit the report and would not take any action. The high-level commission is expected to assess and resolve the problems on the spot.

Stating that he was aware of the problems of the loan shark victims, Prime Minister Prachanda said that even when he was the party president, he took the initiative to punish the loan sharks.

"When I was the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal, I listened to the problems of the victims of the loan sharking system in detail. I also called the three security agencies and the Home Minister and asked them to solve the problem immediately. Some people were apprehended," he said, adding “The action then scared the loan sharks.”

However, it was not a lasting solution. “Since I am in power now, I will find and implement a long-term solution to this problem.” 

He said that if this problem cannot be solved completely now, it will take a serious form. According to him, the process of making a law to prosecute the loan sharks has been started.

The Prime Minister also thanked the victims for marching up to the capital. "You came to Kathmandu by walking. Your problems were heard nationally. Everyone knew that even now, such exploitation exists in our society, not only nationally, but also internationally," he said. "I have been getting information about you ever since you left the district. I have also instructed the Home Ministry not to trouble you anywhere," he added.

Prime Minister Prachanda emphasised that he was not just giving assurances to solve the problem, and urged the visiting people to rest assured and return home.

During the meeting with the Prime Minister, the victims demanded the formation of a high-level commission, formation of a law and deliver justice to the victims whose houses were seized and arrest warrants were issued against them.

Meanwhile, PM Prachanda said that focus of the government was to complete the federal laws at the earliest.

"The constitution has clearly defined the scope of work of central, provincial and local governments. But federal laws have not been made accordingly," he said while addressing a programme on 'Sports infrastructure policy dialogue' organised by National Sports Council in the Capital on Saturday.

According to him, the government would proceed with the systematic implementation of the constitution by quickly enacting the laws including the Federal Civil Code.

Prime Minister Prachanda also said that Nepal could be developed as a 'sports hub' of the world.

Stating that the development of sports sector would be given a priority, he said that rewarding the players, raising the morale of the players by reaching the field, and participating in the areas related to the field of sports were some of the initiatives that he had taken.

Prime Minister Prachanda said, "A sports unit and playground should be built in every school and village so that players can be produced and developed from the grassroots."

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 2 April 2023.