Suresh Gopi hands over Rs 3.70 lakhs, Government writes off Omana's loan

ALAPPUZHA: K. Radhakrishnan, the Minister has announced the waiver of the self-employment loan taken by Omana, wife of the late farmer Prasad from the Scheduled Caste Development Corporation. Prasad had committed suicide in Takazhi.

BJP leader and actor Suresh Gopi transferred Rs 3.70 lakh to Omana's account to clear the family's debts including those from microfinance groups. As a result, Prasad's family is now debt-free.

The Corporation had initially issued a notice threatening to confiscate Omana's house and five-cent property if the loan arrears were not paid. However, the Minister intervened and halted the process after the news was reported by Kerala Kaumudi. Suresh Gopi had also offered to repay the money.

Despite Omana and her children, along with BJP leaders, going to the Alappuzha District Scheduled Castes Development Corporation office to repay the loan, the authorities refused to accept the money. The office superintendent explained that they couldn't accept the money due to an order from the corporation head office prohibiting repayments. BJP District President MV Gopakumar tried to negotiate, but the position remained unchanged.

Omana and her children, along with BJP and Kisan Sangh activists, staged a protest at the corporation office, demanding acceptance of the money to settle the loan. Suresh Gopi contacted Minister K Radhakrishnan during the strike and the Minister assured that the loan would be written off. The strike concluded when Suresh Gopi conveyed this information to the BJP leaders.

Omana's wish is to reclaim the 1.5-acre land at Munnoorampadam given on lease and cultivate it for the future. She also intends to use the money to educate and provide for her son.

To avoid foreclosure due to the debt resulting from cultivation of the land in Prasad's name, another loan was taken by mortgaging the house. The debt eventually reached around four lakhs. Omana expressed her gratitude to Kerala Kaumudi for facilitating the opportunity to pay off the debt, as well as to Suresh Gopi and Minister K Radhakrishnan for their assistance.