Karnataka farm loan waiver money ‘disappears’ from accounts of over 13,000 farmers

Farm Loan

Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, however, said that the refunding was done by nationalised banks, and not the state government.

Theja Ram

Shivappa Jaye, a 60-year-old farmer from Sagar in Kalaburgi district, was overjoyed when the Karnataka government deposited money into his account as part of the state’s farm loan waiver promise, in April this year. But on June 3, weeks after the Lok Sabha elections were declared, the money disappeared from Shivappa’s account. He rushed to the bank to find out what happened – only to be told that the money had been ‘refunded’ to the state government. “On February 28, the government deposited Rs 50,000 in my bank account. On April 17, Rs 43,535 was deposited. With this, I was happy that my loan will be waived. Suddenly, the money just disappeared, and on June 2 and 3 a total of Rs 93,535 just vanished from my account. When I went to the bank and asked them what happened, they said that the government had issued a notice to all banks to refund the loan waiver amount back to the state government,” Shivappa says. Not just Shivappa, over 13,000 farmers across the state have been deprived of the loan waiver scheme, according to farmer organisations. Farmers allege that the government’s scheme was only an eyewash to win votes of the people. Honappa Hayyalappa, another farmer from Kalaburgi, says that the government was out to get them as the people did not vote for the Congress or JD(S). “This time, many people had voted for the BJP. We know how the government feels about farmers in north Karnataka. They do not care, and they have never done so. Our Chief Minister has also made so many statements in the past disregarding our needs. He had also told people of north Karnataka that since we did not vote for the JD(S) during the Assembly elections, why should the government help us. Is this the way they are extracting revenge now? Aren’t governments supposed to help us?” Honnappa laments. Prior to May 23 (Lok Sabha results), the state government had announced that loans in commercial banks worth Rs 4,830 crore had been waived for 7.49 lakh farmers till April 2019; and loans in cooperative banks worth Rs 3,488 crore were waived for 8.1 lakh farmers. The CMO had specifically stated that Kalaburgi district had the most number of beneficiaries from the co-operative bank sector (72,654), followed by Haveri (62,915) and Raichur (49,280). In commercial banks, Belagavi district had recorded the highest number of farmers whose loans have been waived (87,276), followed by Tumkur (82798) and Mandya (78,167). The state government has not denied these reports – however, they’ve put the blame on the banks, and the Centre. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that the discrepancy was noted in the bank accounts of 13,988 farmers in the state during an audit conducted on Monday. “I have called a meeting with representatives of various banks on June 14 at 2.30 pm to discuss this specific issue. Meanwhile, the banks have been asked to explain why the money has been refunded,” Kumaraswamy said. Stating that the discrepancies had occurred only in nationalised banks, Kumaraswamy blamed the Union government and demanded that the Centre be held responsible. “Since this morning (Tuesday), news is being circulated that the state government had deposited the money ahead of the elections only to win votes. What will you (the media) benefit from this? The discrepancies have occurred in nationalised banks. You (the media) praise Modi every day. Why not question him about this?” Kumaraswamy said. However, sources in the Co-Operation Department told TNM that the banks were directed to refund the money to the exchequer by the state government. “Every transaction for loan waiver is done only after it is cleared by the respective taluk committees. This could not have happened without their knowledge,” the source added. The limit for farm loan waiver was capped at Rs 2 lakh per family, which includes the farmer, spouse and dependent children. The state budget 2019-20 also allocated an additional Rs 6,893 crore or Rs 25,000 back to the farmers’ accounts, as an incentive for not defaulting farm loans. The total cost of the scheme is Rs 37,159 crore, which aims to benefit 4.489 million farmers in the state. Farmers have to submit copies of their Aadhaar card, ration card and land record details as proof for eligibility. Farmers themselves can upload their documents on the Crop Loan Waiver website or get taluk officials to help them. Once the details are uploaded, a pre-filled form is automatically generated by the software and the farmer gets an acknowledgement. These documents are vetted by the taluk committees where loan amounts are determined. Eligible farmers are then handed ‘Runa Mukta Patra’ (loan clearance certificate), which they are to handover to the banks. The banks then send these requisite amounts for state government clearance and the money is deposited into the farmers’ accounts, after which the money is used to waive the loans.

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Foldable bicycles allowed in Bengaluru metro if they fit through scanner

Transport

Allowing bicycles will resolve the first and last mile connectivity hurdles for many commuters, which has remained a binding issue for many public transport users in the city.

TNM Staff

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The Namma Metro authorities have reiterated that Bengalureans can carry their foldable bicycles on the metro as long as it can pass through the luggage scanner. Until now there was a persistent confusion among the security staff across the 42 metro stations in the existing network on the matter, causing them to deter users from carrying the foldable cycles. Speaking to TNM, Chief Public Relations Officer, BM Yashavanth Chavan of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), said, “From the beginning we have insisted people can always carry the foldable bicycles. But they have to fit through the luggage scanner.” Metro officials also urge people carrying these bikes to be in the last compartment of the metro to avoid inconvenience to other users. The last compartment also has designated spaces for wheelchairs. Allowing bicycles will resolve the first and last mile connectivity hurdles for many commuters, which has remained a binding issue for many public transport users in the city. However, with no additional passes or tickets for those carrying these bicycles, there is no reliable number of how many of the nearly 4 lakh people using the metro daily use foldable bicycles on a regular basis. From the start of metro service, a section of users has been keen for regular cycles to be allowed in the metro too, as is done in many parts of the world. However, metro officials state that won’t be a reality any time soon, given the already cramped coaches in peak hours. Other than allowing foldable bicycles, the metro authority itself has pushed for new app-based cycles and electric bikes for people to use from and to metro stations. Amit Gupta, CEO of Yulu, one such app-based bicycle service, said, ”On an average we see that 20% of our daily trips are either starting or ending at metro stations. This number will go up the moment we get wider coverage of metro in the city. Electronic City, Whitefield and Outer Ring Road are expected to see much of the usage.” For the Phase-II of the Namma Metro, the BMRCL and the Directorate of Urban Land Transport are in discussion to create bicycle lanes near the stations and under flyovers throughout the metro network for the ease of bikers.

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Girish Karnad, the Master of Transcendence: TM Krishna writes

Tribute

Girish Karnad allowed his characters to ask the questions, to struggle with the inconclusive, and hence his stories truly never ended.

TM Krishna

PTI

An artist is a rare being. He observes and receives that which is within and around and then allows his craft to give it life. This given life is new and within its nooks and corners lie the most complex existential experiences. For this to happen, the artist has to dissolve solely in experience. Time, age, period and location are transient in front of the larger reality - the human condition. Girish Karnad was a master of this transcendence. He lived in the present but travelled the seven seas of existence. Belief, freedom, responsibility, hate, love, care, passion, morality or trust were all movable and questionable. Absolutism had no place in his stories. And hence in all his tellings, there was an intentional ambiguity. It is in this state of ambiguity that we question, reflect and learn. And that was his role as an artist: to nudge every one of us to pause and wonder. He allowed his characters to ask the questions, to struggle with the inconclusive, and hence his stories truly never ended. We live in times when the real-ness of mythological characters or their supernatural powers have unfortunately become central. But, as Girish Karnad showed us repeatedly in plays like Yayati , Hayavadana and Nagamandala, it really does not matter; it should not matter. These characters live amongst us and within us and externalising them into a narrative allows us to touch and feel without self-awareness. He was a master of using his craft to abstract life and allowing the image to mirror our own material. Hence his political was within his artistry and it could not have been another way. He questioned every societal notion with panache and sharpness, making clear to those who wished to see, his own point of view. He searched for the unheard, chastised and stifled voices, gave them presence in his storytelling and narrated stories that kept his inquiring mind real. I was born in the late 1970s and so my own realisation of Girish Karnad came much later in life. But when I think of him, there is one image that rushes into my consciousness: that of Swami’s father in Ananth Nag’s Malgudi Days. We waited every week to watch the tales of Swami on Doordarshan. In Girish, I saw the typical traditional Indian middle-class father. It was not R.K. Narayan’s characterisation or Anant Nag’s direction; it was Girish himself. He became that father who struggled with this inquisitive, naughty and learning child. A non-showy yet caring father who wanted his son to study well and make it in life! His smile, anger, fears were tangible. Mr. Srinivasan (Swami’s father) was not a picturisation; he was a real person, and we all knew him. I was just a bit older than Swami and always took his side and often felt Srinivasan did not really understand his son. Most sons feel that way about our fathers, don’t we? It is true that the rest of India, except for specific literary and theatrical pockets, did not realise the pre-eminence of Girish Karnad. I remember a friend who moved from Delhi to Bengaluru telling me how she never realised that he was so ‘big’. For us in the south, he was that special actor, playwright, superstar who was able to cut across mediums but never got sucked into stardom. He was inherently an intellectual who treasured the need for questioning and one of those few people who allowed himself to be challenged, debunked, a rare quality indeed. The fact that Girish Karnad was a complex thinker with creases, doubts and imperfections made him who he was, a true artist. He spoke his mind and controversies at times surrounded him, but he stood his ground, argued with precision and was often blunt. But, being a true intellectual, he always allowed his stories to move in directions that were different from his own, as long as they stayed true to the story of humanity. T.M. Krishna is a carnatic vocalist, author, public speaker and writer on human choices, dilemmas and concerns.

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Two Mangaluru scrap dealers arrested for creating fake bills to avoid up to Rs 15 cr GST

Crime

Officials said the duo fraudulently generated Input Tax Credit from business firms and entities without obtaining any goods in reality, saving up to Rs 15 crore.

Harsha Raj Gatty

Two scrap dealers from Mangaluru were arrested by officials of the anti-evasion wing of the Central Goods and Services Tax Commissionerate in the city for evading GST on goods worth up to Rs 84 crore. PK Abdul Raheem and Abdul Khadar Kuloor Chayebba, who run the firms Thouheed Scrap Dealer and MK Traders respectively, created fake invoices and Input Tax Credit (ITC) to evade tax. Officials investigating the duo stated that they had fraudulently generated ITC from business firms and entities without obtaining any goods in reality. This helped the duo save up to Rs 15 crore. “The fraudulently obtained ITC was then utilised by the duo for evasion of GST payable by them (to the tax authorities) on their supplies of metal scrap procured from local unregistered dealers without payment of GST, to the manufacturers of aluminium/MS/copper rods/ingots/castings, etc.,” the Commissioner of Central GST for Mangaluru, Dharm Singh, stated. For instance, if a manufacturer of an iron box produces an invoice showing that GST was paid while obtaining the parts used for manufacture, then while filing company taxes there will be an exemption from paying GST tax again. According to investigating officials in Mangaluru, the duo faked the invoices to show that they have paid GST. Further, the GST Commissionerate alleged that Raheem and Khadar were also involved in raising fake invoices to transfer ITC further in the fake invoice chain. Through their modus operandi of fraudulent ITC and fake invoices, the duo had evaded GST to the tune of approximately Rs 15 crore on goods valued at approximately Rs 84 crore. “The offence involved falls under the cognizable & non-bailable offence as per provisions of Sec. 132 of the CGST Act, attracting inter alia, the provisions for arrest under Sec. 69 of CGST Act,” Dharm Singh said in a press statement. According to the officials, further investigation is underway to identify other individuals and firms who have benefited from creating fake invoices and a trail of ITC. Story by Story Infinity (Subs and Scribes Media Ventures LLP.)  

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Bengaluru airport to have two battery operated ambulances inside the terminal

Airport

The ambulances will be equipped with oxygen cylinders and other essential equipment.

TNM Staff

The Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has now launched an Indoor Ambulance Service with two vehicles, to provide quick medical emergency response. The ambulances will be equipped with oxygen cylinders and other essential equipment, ad will enable faster medical care before moving patients to Aster Hospital built within the compound for further care. The two battery operated vehicles will ply with professionally trained and experienced emergency medical technicians from KIA's medical partner Aster Hospital. They will provide 24/7 emergency medical service within the domestic and international terminals. "We launched this Indoor Ambulance Service to provide rapid response during medical emergencies in the terminal. Treatment starts as soon as the patient is onboard the ambulance and continues on the journey to the hospital. Our aim is to provide the best care for passengers who need emergency support," said Thomas Hoff Andersson, Chief Operating Officer, Bangalore International Airport Limited. The Bengaluru airport began operations in May 2008, and offers a wide air-route network, with over 37 passenger airlines and 12 cargo airlines connecting Bengaluru to the rest of the world. It is currently the busiest airport in South India and the third largest in the Country, having welcomed 33.3 million passengers in FY 2018-19, registering a 23.8% year-on-year growth. The Kempegowda international airport in Bengaluru was built as a private-public partnership. Private promoters hold 74% (Fairfax 48% and Siemens Projects Ventures 26%) stake in BIAL, while the government holds the remaining 26% – through Karnataka State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited – 13%, Airport Authority of India – 13%. Currently the airport is going through a Rs 13,000 crore expansion project which includes a new terminal, widening of roads, metro access and cargo bays.  

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Fearing loss of money deposited in schemes, hundreds protest against Bengaluru's IMA Jewels

Protest

According to the scheme, IMA Jewels promised to pay its depositors a return of upto 3% per month, if the company made profits.

Shiba Kurian

‘Mansoor Khan is dead’, ‘Mansoor Khan killed himself’ - these were some of the messages that hundreds of people in Bengaluru received on their smartphones on Monday morning. Mohammed Mansoor Khan is the owner of IMA Jewels, where many have deposited in an investment scheme. As soon as the message started doing the rounds on WhatsApp, it triggered panic among those who deposited in the scheme and they rushed to the showroom on Lady Curzon Road, Bengaluru. Since 9 am on Monday, the road saw a sea of protestors, both men and women, demanding back the lakhs (or even crores) of money they have deposited with IMA Jewels. A posse of police stood guard at the entrance of the showroom and tried to assuage the protestors. “When we came here, we learnt that Mansoor Khan is not dead,” said one woman, while another protester said, “He might have escaped as he could not return our money.” There was a reason why the message on WhatsApp caused the panic. According to the scheme, IMA Jewels promised to pay its depositors a return of up to 3% per month, that is, if the company is making profits. Hence, if a person has invested Rs 1 lakh with the jeweller, he or she would receive Rs 3,000 per month.  “But the return may also reduce by 2% or 1%, or no amount at all, if the company is not doing well. This is what the share certificate that depositors receive states,” Usma, whose family deposited Rs 11 lakh in the scheme, told TNM. “Since the last three to four months, we have been receiving only one per cent of the amount invested,” Nigar Sultana, one of the protestors, told TNM. “Last week, I received a message from the jeweller saying that the remaining amount of the monthly return has been credited to my bank account. But this has not reflected in my bank account. All we see is a closed shop.” This was the concern that brought the others to the footsteps of the jewellery showroom, established in 2016 by IMA (I Monetary Advisory) Group of Companies, led by Mansoor Khan. In fact, even before the messages on WhatsApp surfaced, the depositors got wind of the problem in March. “When I realised my monthly return had reduced, I enquired with the jeweller to see if there was any setback. They attributed it to election season and other technical issues. He (Mansoor Khan) never told us the actual problem,” said a protester, who did not wish to be named, yet emphasised that they did their due diligence before investing in the scheme. “That’s when people started applying to withdraw their money from the scheme,” added Usma. After submitting the relevant document, the depositor is supposed to get back the amount within 45 days, which, according to many protesters, has not reached their account yet.  “We are poor people. Many of us gathered here invested our money in schemes for education, marriages and medical treatment. If the jeweller cannot return our money, let him at least give us the jewellery worth the amount we invested. We can sell these and get our money back,” said Shabana, another protester, who deposited Rs 2.5 lakh with IMA Jewels.  The political angle Along with messages being circulated on WhatsApp was an audio clip, allegedly from Mansoor Khan to the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru. In the clip, the man purported to be Mansoor claimed that the Shivajinagar Congress MLA, Roshan Baig (although he did not explicitly raise his name in the clip), had taken Rs 400 crore for him to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “He refused to return my money when he did not get the ticket to contest. Instead of returning my money, he started sending his people to my office and house. There was a threat to my family’s life and so I sent them (family) to a village and I am in south Bengaluru." However, Roshan Baig soon took to Twitter to dismiss the claims. Issuing notice on the ongoing IMA issue. pic.twitter.com/GFMzDwWuLC — Roshan Baig (@rroshanbaig) June 10, 2019 In the audio clip, Mansoor Khan goes on to ask the police to use his assets - Rs 500 crore worth properties in Bengaluru, 30,000-carat diamonds, as well as gold and silver - to pay off his depositors. “The BDA (Bengaluru Development Authority) has my money worth Rs 5 crore and so does the Shivajinagar MLA. Please take that money, too, and give it to the people,” he added. A company with history of defaulting? On November 16, 2018, the office of the Assistant Commissioner had published a public notice in a newspaper against I Monetary Advisory (IMA) Private Limited and its associates. The company was accused of illegally collecting money from the public and diverting it to its directors, thereby defaulting on the repayment of the depositor's money. In this case, several cases, too, have been registered under section 5 of the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishment Act, 2004. According to Rahul Kumar IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) - Bengaluru East, who was heading the talks with the protestors on Monday, the police filed a case in the matter after receiving a complaint on Sunday evening. Based on 3,000 representations in the complaint, the police have registered a case under Section 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 406 (Punishment for criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code, a police official at the Commercial Street station told TNM. He also urged the protestors to come forward and file a complaint with the police using whatever authentic documents, including challans, they have received from IMA Jewels. “Only if we register all your complaints will we be able to understand the amount of money lost and how much you will receive,” said the DCP, adding that they have no clarity on the whereabouts of Mansoor Khan yet. One section of protestors decided not to file a complaint. “It will only make matters worse as it involves frequent visits to courts and then spending more money,” said Basha Khan, who had deposited Rs 16 lakh. Yet there is another section of protesters who are hopeful of receiving their deposits back. In fact, a few meters away from the showroom, a tiny photocopy kiosk suddenly saw a spurt of customers - the protestors who were scrambling to make copies of their original documents to file their complaints. “Let’s see what happens,” said a protester, who was hurriedly gathering and pinning his documents to head to a church in Shivajinagar, which the police have turned into a makeshift police station to take complaints from protestors. (With inputs from Soumya Chatterjee)

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In pics: Meet Bengaluru’s bat doctor who’s repaired the bats of Kohli, Dhoni and more

Cricket

Having trained in carpentry when he was young, Ram modified the skills he’d learned to be able to repair crickets bats.

Dr Nimeshika Jayachandran

In a remote lane at the heart of Uttarahalli in a small hole-in-the wall workshop is where you can find Ram Bhandari, who is often called the “bat doctor.” Ram repairs and modifies cricket bats using techniques he learned as a carpenter.  Several legends of the game such as Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and even international players like Ricky Ponting, are all clients of his. “This year for the World Cup, I have worked on Indian team captain Virat’s (Kohli) bat. He prefers that the handle of the bat is oval rather than circular in shape. I also worked on Rohit Sharma’s bat for the World Cup,” he says.  Originally from Bihar, he moved to Bengaluru in 1979 after doing a series of odd jobs in a number of states.  “Once I came to Bangalore, I had to find a way to sustain myself. I got married and had kids also, whom I had to take care of. I used to make adjustments to my own bats earlier, so soon began doing that for local players and it worked out,” he says.  He was able to transfer his skills and knowledge from working as a carpenter onto cricket bats.  Rahul Dravid was one of this first clients after having been acquainted with him during the Ranji Trophy. Following this, several others soon approached him: Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli, Dhoni, Rohit Sharma among others.  In addition to having worked on bats of players during the Indian Premier League (IPL), he has also worked on bats for players from the Celebrity Cricket League (CCL). From being a fan of the sport to working with well-known players, Ram has perfected his craft to earn a respectable living for himself. 

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