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Kerala's Achuthanandan takes on Natesan

Trivandrum - The opposition leader filed a petition in the vigilance court seeking a probe into the microfinance scheme run by SNDP Yogam headed by Natesan.

Kerala opposition leader V S Achuthanandan has taken his battle against the 'corrupt' deals of Ezhava community leader Vellappally Natesan, who is trying to float a third political front in the state, to the court.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) veteran has initiated the legal battle by filing a petition in the vigilance court here on Friday seeking a probe into the microfinance scheme run by Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam headed by Natesan.
The court has posted the petition, alleging misappropriation of funds worth more than Rs50 billion, for hearing on January 6. The petition alleged that Natesan and his men had cheated poor women in the Ezhava community by lending the credit extended to SNDP by various financial institutions at low interest rates at exorbitant rates. The Kerala State Backward Classes Development Corporation and various scheduled commercial banks had provided the credit at two percent interest rate. However, the SNDP lent it to members of micro units at the rate of 12 to 18 per cent, according to Achuthanandan.
The opposition leader also alleged massive diversion of loans taken in the name of poor people. They came to know about the loans in their names only after revenue recovery proceedings were initiated against them. One such case has been reported from Adoor in Pathanamthitta district.
The case involves about 5,000 families, who are facing revenue recovery proceedings for Rs76.5 million that the SNDP Adoor Union took from Bank of India. The victims said that the union had availed the loan without their knowledge. Some of them have secured stay from high court against the recovery proceedings.
State Backward Communities Welfare Minister A.P Anil Kumar said that the money given to SNDP by the Backward Classes Development Corporation would be taken back if it is found that it was lent to microfinancing units at higher interest.- news@khaleejtimes.com
He said that the corporation was now conducting an investigation into the allegations. The Minister said that SNDP had not yet produced utilisation certificate regarding the money given to the SNDP microfinancing units.
Achuthanandan has also alleged massive corruption in appointments of teachers and admissions in educational institutions under the SNDP and SN Trust. He said Natesan had pocketed Rs1 billion in last four years as bribe from appointments alone.
Natesan, who is currently leading a 'Samthwa Munnetta Yatra' from Kasargod to Trivandrum to drum up support for his political moves, has dimissed the allegations against him as politically motivated. He said that the CPM has been mounting attack on him ever since the SNDP initiated steps to form a political party.
Natesan said that the CPM was rattled by the SNDP moves as they fear that the party to be floated by them will affect them in the elections. He said that he will face the allegations both legally and politically.
Achuthanandan said that he was fighting the battle for the sake of thousands of poor women, who were cheated by the SNDP. He said that he will continue the battle until justice is done to them. - news@khaleejtimes.com

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