Karnataka launches helpline to support borrowers in financial distress
Bengaluru: The All-India Financial Borrowers Federation (AIFBF), in partnership with the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), has launched a helpline to support borrowers facing financial distress, particularly farmers and daily wage labourers.
The helpline, accessible by dialling 080-45888789, offers psychological counselling and financial advice for borrowers in distress. Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao inaugurated the service by making the first call, The New Indian Express reported on Saturday.
According to data shared by AIFBF, an estimated 14 farmers take their lives every day across India due to debt-related distress. The organisation said it hopes the helpline will serve as a timely intervention to prevent such tragedies.
In addition, AIFBF has reportedly written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, urging reforms to make borrowing more inclusive and borrower-friendly. The suggestions include empowering women entrepreneurs and startups, strengthening the Make in India initiative, boosting India’s GDP, and curbing non-performing assets and farmer suicides.
FKCCI president M.G. Balakrishna expressed gratitude to AIFBF for facilitating the discussion. “Borrowers or not, they are taxpayers and nation-builders. We believe in building an ecosystem where borrowers are respected; they are an asset to this nation,” TNIE quoted Balakrishna as saying.
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Man abducted, assaulted, forced to drink urine in Ajmer; nine arrested
Jaipur (PTI): Nine persons, including a woman, have been arrested for allegedly abducting a man and subjecting him to torture in Rajasthan's Ajmer district, police said on Sunday.
The incident took place on Saturday in Gagwana village under the Gegal police station area and was allegedly linked to an ongoing dispute, they said.
According to police, a marriage between a woman and a man from Beer village, had ended in divorce following which she had been living at her parental home. About five months ago, the victim, identified as Jeetu (21), married the woman.
The woman's former in-laws allegedly objected to this marriage, claiming that the issue had not been settled in accordance with community norms, and that the dispute had been ongoing.
Following this, Jeetu was allegedly abducted on Saturday, held captive, and assaulted by the woman's former in-law's. He was allegedly forced to wear a garland of shoes and slippers and made to drink urine, police said.
A video of the incident later surfaced on social media, triggering outrage in the area.
Following the circulation of the video, Jeetu's family staged a protest at the Gegal police station, alleging delay in police action.
Rural Circle Officer Ramchandra Chaudhary reached the spot and assured the family of prompt action. A case was registered on Saturday evening and teams were formed to trace the accused.
Superintendent of Police Harshvardhan Agarwala said nine accused, including a woman, have been arrested and the vehicles used in the crime seized.
Efforts are underway to apprehend the other absconding accused, police said.
