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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Hyderabad–B’luru, Chennai-B’luru among seven high-speed rail corridors announced in budget
New Delhi: India will expand its high-speed rail network with seven new corridors as part of efforts to promote faster and environmentally sustainable passenger transport, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced while presenting the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament on Sunday.
Outlining the government’s infrastructure plans, Sitharaman said the proposed high-speed rail corridors are aimed at improving connectivity between major economic and cultural centres, while also helping reduce the carbon footprint of long-distance travel.
“The government proposes to develop environmentally sustainable passenger transport systems through seven high-speed rail corridors,” the finance minister said in her Budget speech.
According to the announcement, the identified routes include Mumbai–Pune, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Delhi–Varanasi, Varanasi–Siliguri, Pune–Hyderabad, Hyderabad–Chennai and Chennai–Bengaluru. These corridors are expected to link key metropolitan cities with fast-growing urban and industrial hubs.
