Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga (SP)

Shivamogga, Jun 27: Employees of Canara Bank, Nittur branch in Hosanagar taluk of the district, made a phone call to a farmer to inform him that his loan amount is yet to be cleared and asked him to visit the branch forthwith. The farmer visited the bank on Friday June 26 by walk as bus services are absent, and returned after clearing the remaining amount of Rs 3.46.

The farmer, Laxminarayana, is from Baruve village near Nittur. He had raised a farm loan of Rs 35,000 from the said bank. Rs 32,000 of the loan was waived by the government. He had cleared the balance amount of Rs 3,000 along with interest a few months back. But on Friday, he received a call from the bank, asking him to come to the bank as there was some pending loan amount. He was taken back, and rushed to Nittur immediately. As there are no buses due to lockdown and Laxminarayana does not own a vehicle, he walked for 15 km to reach the branch, and returned after remitting Rs 3.46.

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The farmer, Laxminarayana Amade, said that he was hurt to know that the bank people made him walk long distances just to get Rs 3.46 cleared. Canara Bank Nittur branch manager, L Pingwa, said that the bank audit is in progress and that the farmer's signature was needed to renew his loan. He explained that the farmer paid the balance of Rs 3.46 in his account during the visit, and that his signature was obtained by the bank.