KATHMANDU, April 1: The usury victims have held a meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal  this morning at the latter's official residence in Baluwatar.

The usury victims are staging protests in the federal capital for the past couple of days demanding to address their concerns.

During the meeting, the usury victims urged the PM to relieve them of the loan sharks, PM's press coordinator Surya Kiran Sharma said.

On the occasion, the PM told the usury victims that the government is serious about addressing their problems, adding that the victims would get justice. "The government is working to address your problems," PM Dahal  assured. 

"The process to bring the loan sharks under the ambit of law has been already initiated. We have begun the process to bring amendments in the Act. I have expected your feedback to make the Act effective," PM Dahal  told the usury victims.

PM Dahal  said, "The government will draft the Act. This issue will be resolved in the long-run by making laws. Be assured that I will take all actions required to end this problem."

PM Dahal was of the view that the formation of the high-level commission as decided by the council of ministers will have all powers to book the loan sharks then and there.

The victims of usury traveled to Kathmandu on foot from different districts of Terai to draw attention of the federal government towards their plight. They have announced to stage protests in Kathmandu until their demands are met.

They are also holding  talks with the government team. The victims have presented nine points demands before the government. 

During the talks, the government officials have informed the victims about the government's efforts so far including the progress made in amending the relevant law.

In the discussion with the government talks team, the victims of loan sharking have put forth demands such as the formation of a commission, the resolution of the cases in the court and the cancellation of loan-paper made by the money lenders.

It may be noted that the government has formed a talks team led by Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Rudra Devi Sharma, while the victims team is led by Manoj Paswan, the coordinator of the struggle committee.

In an effort to respond to the demands of the victims of illegal money lending, the government has decided to amend the Criminal Code to criminalize the act of usury.

Speaking at the House of Representatives meeting on Friday, several lawmakers had drawn the attention of the government to take concrete steps to address problems of the loan sharking victims.

 
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