Suryapur Bank agents seek Rs 9 cr bridge loan

Recurring deposit agents of Suryapur Co-operative Bank have written to the Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi seeking a bridge loan of Rs 9 crore for the small depositors against their savings to be received from the bank.

The fast-unto-death agitation of the agents has entered the fourth day on Friday.

The Suryapur Bank Agent Dainik Bachat Hitvardhak Samiti, which represents the small daily savings depositors of the Bank, said the bank owes Rs 9 crore to 8,600 small depositors. The letter to the chief minister said the small deposits are insured by the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Corporation of India.

The amount will be disbursed to the depositors once the bank is recommended for liquidation to the Reserve Bank of India. The letter said finalisation and disbursal of the insurance claim may take up to a couple of years and the depositors, a majority of whom are from the lower strata of the society, cannot wait for such a long time.

The samiti appealed to the chief minister to sanction the bridge loan to help the small depositors. Of the five agents who are on fast unto death, the condition of two has deteriorated.

However, they have refused to take any treatment.

Dilip Shah, the convenor of the Samiti, said, "We have made an appeal to the chief minister keeping in mind the interests of 8,600 small depositors.

"We hope that he will consider the appeal and sanction the loan. There is no risk involved in granting the loan as the deposits in the bank are insured."