Trust takes small loans on behalf of tribespeople, ‘fails’ to repay them

The Tamil Nadu Tribal People’s Association has alleged that around 60 families in Gudalur have been defrauded by people running a trust, which procured loans for them but misappropriated the repayment.

Association district organiser K. Mahendran, along with the affected residents, petitioned the Superintendent of Police on Tuesday, demanding action against those responsible.

They alleged that the trust met tribeswomen from the Kattunayakan and Paniya communities in Devarshola, Nellakottai and Sri Madurai panchayats, offering to arrange loans for them through the Indian Bank branches at Gudalur and Devarshola. The loans were arranged for the beneficiaries through a joint liability group system, with each person receiving loans ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh.