Microfinance Victims Begin Indefinite Hunger Strike to Enforce Supreme Court Order

Microfinance victims have launched an indefinite collective hunger strike at Maiti Ghar to demand the implementation of the Supreme Court’s directive. A group of 25 victims, including Maniram Gyawali, chairman of the Committee to Combat Microfinance and Financial Exploitation, have arrived in Kathmandu from various districts to participate in the protest. Vice Chairman of the committee, Min Prasad Chaulagain, stated that the strike will continue until the government publicly releases the report of the task force formed last September and implements its recommendations. 12 Shrawan, Kathmandu.

The hunger strike began on Tuesday with 25 victims demanding the enforcement of the Supreme Court’s order. The Court had mandated the government, Nepal Rastra Bank, and the Association of Microfinance Bankers to implement consensus measures to resolve the victims’ issues. However, due to government inaction, the victims have resorted to this protest during the rainy season.

Those on hunger strike at Maiti Ghar have brought provisions such as rice, gas cylinders, and lime. Given the prolonged nature of their movement, Vice Chairman Chaulagain confirmed that protests will continue until their grievances are addressed. He remarked, “Though microfinance institutions have caused us suffering in the past, unresolved legacy issues continue to hinder us. Until these matters are resolved, we will not feel justice has been served.”

Committee Chairman Maniram Gyawali emphasized the need for the government to publicize the on-site evaluation report of the recently formed task force. He explained, “Many of the microfinance victims’ problems would be resolved if the recommendations in the report are implemented.” The report proposes measures including refraining from blacklisting victims for four years, removing names already blacklisted, halting auctioning of collateral for four years, establishing rehabilitation centers, forgiving loans based on victims’ conditions, and providing new loans ranging from NPR 100,000 to 500,000 at 3 percent interest.