The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to constitute district level 'Task Force Committees' (TFCs) to look into the issues related to ‘unethical practices’ of microfinance institutions in the state.
According to an official press release, every district will have one TFC consisting of seven members including a lawyer, an employee of Society of Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), president and secretaries of Zilla Samakya and three senior gender community resource persons.
The TFCs will identify unethical practices with the help of village organisations and social action committees and conduct awareness workshops on the laws related to MFIs.
They will also help women self-help groups to file cases against violation of human rights and coercive practices adopted by MFIs in relevant courts.
The committees will submit their first fact finding reports by April 25. Later, they will submit monthly reports to SERP. The duration of the committees will be one year.
Legal assistance
Zilla Samakhyas shall provide financial assistance to the women victim or to the community-based organisations to fight the cases in the courts. Victims of the MFIs can contact helpline number 155321 for legal assistance and follow up of the cases will be done by the SERP.