Panaji: Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade urged Union govt to introduce urgent measures to restore the financial and credit standing of mining-affected families in Goa.He urged govt to introduce a one-time special mechanism to restore the creditworthiness and financial standing of mining-affected borrowers whose loan defaults arose solely due to the 2012 mining ban and who have since repaid late or settled their loan accounts after their due dates.During a Zero Hour mention, Tanavade said that mining-affected people continue to face hardship.He said that the suspension of mining operations in Goa in 2012 led to a severe socio-economic crisis. “Thousands of people who depended on the mining sector lost their livelihoods and were unable to repay loans taken for trucks, tippers, barges, mining machinery, and other equipment,” Tanavade said.He said that these loan defaults were not wilful but were caused by circumstances beyond the borrowers’ control.Tanavade said that Goa govt had recognised the gravity of the crisis by introducing relief measures, including a govt-supported one-time settlement (OTS) scheme, through which many borrowers settled their loan accounts. However, despite clearing their dues, their credit history and credit scores continue to remain adversely affected, preventing them from accessing fresh institutional finance to restart businesses.Tanavade said that such a measure would provide long-awaited justice to thousands of mining-affected families, restore their access to institutional credit, and enable them to rebuild their livelihoods with dignity.
