Bank evicts ST family from home over loan default in Kasaragod

Kasaragod: A family belonging to a scheduled tribe (ST) community residing in Unnathi settlement at Kottakkunnu in Kasaragod has been evicted from their home by a private finance institution due to their inability to repay a loan. The bank officials reportedly forced out the children from the house when their parents were away for work last Thursday. The three-room house was seized and their belongings were left outside while the bank officials enforced a court order to recover an unpaid loan of Rs 1.5 lakh. The five-member family — Sindu (40), her three children and her 80-year-old father — has been living in the verandah of their house for the past one week. According to Sindu, her husband had taken Rs 1.5 lakh from the private bank for his personal purpose by mortgaging the house owned by her. However, while he managed to repay around Rs 50,000, he defaulted in the repayment later. While Sindu's husband is reportedly living separately and has not given any financial support to the family, Sindu, a daily wage worker, is now taking care of the family. As a result of the loan default, the bank pasted a court notice on the house and sealed it. Left with no other option, the family has been living in the verandah. Sindu told reporters that she is unable to repay the money immediately and is under distress.