Harassed by bank officials for delaying the repayment of loan amounts on time, the farmers around Annur in have sought the help of the district administration to recommend to the banks to extend the last date of payment.

More than 100 farmers have borrowed Agricultural Development Loans from the nationalised banks in Annur. The farmers were not able to pay back the loan amount in time as the monsoon did not help in production. While the farmers had requested the banks to extend the repayment time, the bank officials had reportedly behaved rudely with them by humiliating them.

“A farmer named Ramasamy committed suicide because he was constantly humiliated by the bank officials,” said L.K.T. Pannuswamy, president of the Tamil Nadu Independent Farmers Association. He also said that even after the suicide, the officials had neither heeded to the query, nor have they stopped harassing the farmers.

“We request the District Administration to suggest the nationalised banks to extend the last date of paying so that the farmers can get the money ready. Collector Archana Patnaik should also ask the banks to be kind to students,” he added.

The farmers have submitted a written petition to the collector in this regard.