JHAPA, Jan 30: Usury victims from various districts staged a 'March for Justice' from Mechi Bridge at Kakarvitta in Jhapa district on Tuesday demanding justice.

Participants taking part in the march launched at the initiative of the Usury Victims Peasants Workers Struggle Committee have set out towards Kathmandu on foot with arrangement of food and shelter needed for their journey for justice.

There are altogether 50 loan shark victims from Jhapa, Sunsari, Siraha and Saptari districts who aim to reach Kathmandu within 15 days on foot from the border town of eastern Nepal to the federal capital via Chitwan. Half of the participants are women.

Meanwhile, another group of loan shark victims have also kicked off a march for justice from Mahendranagar, a border town in western Nepal. Both the groups would meet in Chitwan and together march towards Kathmandu, the participants shared.

The committee's Central Chairperson Awadesh Kushwah said that they started their march on the Martyrs Day, putting forth a six-point demand with the government. 

The demands include cancellation of all fake documents related to usury and cancellation of transfer of property rights of the victims to the exploitative lenders, formulation of strong laws for the culprits of financial crime related to usury and formation of a high-powered judicial commission.

Likewise, they have also pressed for opening new application for the record-keeping of the usury victims, arresting the exploitative moneylenders, investigating the documents related to the usury unilaterally verified in the local level and probe into cases of human rights violation against the victims, and providing compensation and subsidized loan without collateral to the victims.  

"May the government pay heed to the demands of usury victims at the earliest. We will not leave the street until our demands are heard," warned Kushwah.

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