Cooperative, Microfinance and Meter-Interest Victims Stage Sit-In Outside National Human Rights Commission

Dragon Media Correspondent

Victims of cooperatives, microfinance institutions and predatory meter-interest lending staged a sit-in outside the office of the National Human Rights Commission on Friday evening, demanding solutions to their problems.

The protesters had arrived in Kathmandu from various districts of Madhes under the leadership of the Nation, Nationality, Religion, Culture and Citizens’ Protection Campaign.

They marched on foot from Kalanki to the Commission’s office on Friday to draw attention to their demands.

When security personnel stopped them at the entrance while they were attempting to submit a memorandum, the protesters began chanting slogans and staged a sit-in outside the gate.

The victims had reached Kathmandu on Thursday after undertaking a foot march to pressure the government to address their grievances.

They have been demanding effective government intervention to resolve problems related to excessive debt burdens, unusually high interest rates, savings trapped in cooperatives and difficulties associated with microfinance institutions.

The protesters had planned to request the National Human Rights Commission to intervene for the protection of their economic and social rights. However, after being prevented from entering the premises, they continued their protest and sit-in outside the Commission’s gate.