Against meter interest, the Farmers and Workers Movement Nepal began its third phase of the march on foot from Tirhutiya Gachhi in Janakpur on Thursday.
We use Google Cloud Translation Services. Google requires we provide the following disclaimer relating to use of this service:
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, expressed or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement.
As the government has failed to implement the agreement, the Meter Interest Victims Farmers and Workers Movement Nepal has begun its third phase of foot march from Tirhutiya Gachhi in Janakpur starting Thursday, saying that victims still have to endure the abuses of moneylenders.
More than 400 people from 35 districts are participating in the “Meter Interest Victims’ Foot March–3.” At the Mandal Ashram near the District Administration Office in Janakpur, meter interest victims from 35 districts have the same complaint: “We have already paid more than triple the amount we borrowed. But the moneylenders’ abuses continue.”
Fifty-two-year-old Indra Bahadur Darji from Bardaghat, Nawalparasi, who came to Janakpur to join the foot march, brought his belongings packed in a bag. “I don’t know how many days we’ll have to stay on the road and in Kathmandu,” Darji told Kantipur, “but this time, we won’t return without a resolution.” Darji had borrowed 300,000 rupees from moneylender Kamaldev Chamar with a promissory note. Besides Darji, 41 others who borrowed from Chamar are also victims.
“When I took a loan of 300,000 rupees, the moneylender tricked me into signing two separate promissory notes of 300,000 each,” Darji said. “He gave me only one of the promissory notes and hid the other. So far, I have already lost 12 ghur of land. The case is in court. I don’t know how much more land will be lost.” Along with Darji, 53-year-old Tilakram Chaudhary from Susta West, Nawalparasi, has also arrived in Janakpur to join the foot march to Kathmandu.
The suffering of Sarvajit Rai from Janakpur is also harrowing. He borrowed 1,387,000 rupees from moneylender Surendra Pandey. According to Rai, he has already paid Pandey 2.2 million rupees. “He took the money and also filed a case against me in court,” Rai said. “Now all my property is frozen.” About 400 people affected by meter interest and carrying similar cases have started a foot march to submit their cases to the federal government.
Awadhesh Kushwaha, chairperson of the Meter Interest Victims Farmers and Workers Movement Nepal, said the third phase of the foot march has begun with demands for the cancellation of fake documents, enactment of a powerful special law against meter interest, formation of a tribunal against meter interest, investigation of moneylenders’ property, return of victims’ property, and assurance of fair financial transactions. He said the foot march starting from Janakpur will reach Kathmandu within a maximum of 15 days.
“About 400–500 people are participating in the foot march from Janakpur,” Kushwaha said. “Victims from each district will continue to join along the way. For food and lodging, we have all collected between 50 and 200 rupees each.” According to him, since the movement will continue for 15 days until they reach Kathmandu, it would be best if the government listens to the foot march and reaches an agreement. “If our demands are not addressed within 15 days of the foot march, we will call victims from all over the country and launch a Kathmandu-centric movement,” Kushwaha said.
Previously, meter interest victims have already held two foot marches. Although the government has formed three commissions and one task force, the problems of meter interest victims remain unchanged.
Most recently, on 29 Falgun 2080, a four-point agreement was reached between the government and meter interest victims. The then Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, along with the government negotiation team and representatives of the victims, signed the four-point agreement. The agreement stated that a three-member commission would be formed to submit a report to the government within three months in accordance with the “Commission of Inquiry Act, 2026.” It was also agreed that the previous commission would re-investigate complaints already sent to the police and new complaints received from applicants after the formation of the commission.
