Committee formed to hold talks with microfinance victims

KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle has formed a committee to meet protesters who say they have been harmed by microfinance institutions.

A ministerial decision on Thursday appointed Mahesh Acharya, Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, as chair. Other members are Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Law Binod Kumar Bhattarai; Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs Suresh Panthi; and Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank Ramu Paudel. Under‑Secretary Bolraj Acharya will serve as member secretary.

Minister Wagle instructed the committee to meet the microfinance victims on Thursday itself.

Last week, groups of microfinance victims from several districts travelled to Kathmandu with a list of demands. They have called for an end to what they say is financial exploitation by microfinance institutions, for loans to be made available to farmers at minimal interest rates, and for land lost in auctions or write‑off processes to be returned, among other requests.

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