Following a 70-day-long dharna by farmers outside the Primary Cooperative Agricultural Development Bank (PADB) in Faridkot, a newly formed seven-member joint committee has begun a formal inquiry cum hearing process to probe serious allegations of farmer exploitation by bank employees.
Committee Composition and Timeline
The high-level committee comprises two representatives from the protesting farmers' union, three senior officials from the PADB Bank, and one representative each from the district civil administration and the police department. Setting up a strict timeline, the panel has scheduled a 10-day hearing window, aiming to review around 10 cases per day to reach an amicable resolution for all grievances. Out of 113 formally logged complaints in the district, the panel has already given a direct hearing to 26 affected farmers.
Background of the Protest
The massive campaign, spearheaded by the Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) Ekta Sidhupur, initially erupted out of deep grief and anger following a tragic incident on March 23. Two debt-ridden farmer brothers — Jaskaran Singh (38) and Jaswinder Singh (34) from Hari Nau village — died by suicide by jumping hand-in-hand in front of a moving train near Kotkapura. The brothers were reportedly crushed under a mounting debt of nearly Rs 25 lakh. While farm leaders note that the bank had no direct role in the tragic deaths, the unrelenting financial anxiety pushed the brothers to the brink.
Complaints and Demands
The agitation, which formally began on March 30, has successfully brought forward a total of 139 distress complaints from local agriculturists but the committee will address 113 complaints, which were received at the first stage, said Naib Singh, Block President of the farmers' union. The bank routinely demands and keeps pre-signed, blank cheques from farmers as collateral before advancing loans. Protesters are demanding the immediate return of all such cheques, alleging that banks unethically deposit them later to trigger criminal litigations and land auctions. Multiple farmers claim that even after they had fully paid off their outstanding loans, the bank continued to show pending dues against their names.
One-Time Settlement Sought
Given the ongoing disputes regarding loan closures and legal disputes, the majority of the aggrieved farmers are demanding that the PADB implement a transparent, comprehensive One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme, similar to those frequently offered by other private and nationalised commercial banks. The committee's work is expected to bring relief to the distressed farmers and address the systemic issues that have led to widespread exploitation.
