Immediate action on complaints against harassment by microfinance firms: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that that immediate action would be taken if people complained about harassment by microfinance companies.

Speaking to reporters here on Sunday the chief minister said: “Helplines have been set up in the offices of respective deputy commissioners, where citizens could complain about harassment by microfinance companies.”

Siddaramaiah’s statement comes a day after he held a high-level meeting with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Home Minister G Parameshwara, Law Minister H K Patil, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda and top bureaucrats on measures to curb the menace of microfinance companies.

CID probe?

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Belagavi, PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi said that the government was contemplating to order a CID probe into the harassment by microfinance companies in the state.

Jarkiholi said that there had been complaints of microfinance companies harassing people in Gokak, Belagavi, Hukkeri, Savadatti, Bailhongal and other parts of the district. “The police have taken up a preliminary investigation. We will hold a meeting in this regard this week,” he said.