KANNUR: A Kerala family was forced out of their home Wednesday, when Kerala State Cooperative Bank enforced a court order to recover an unpaid loan of Rs 2 lakh. The family’s three-room home at Parappachal in Kasaragod was seized and their belongings were left outside while they were away for a medical visit.
Janaki, 70, her son Vijesh TP, daughter-in-law Vijina, and their two children were able to return on Thursday after an NRI businessman stepped in to settle their debt.
“When we returned from hospital around 6pm Wednesday, we found the house sealed and a bank notice pinned to the wall,” Vijesh said. With no place to go, the family spent the night in the courtyard, setting up a temporary kitchen.
Their situation gained widespread media attention Thursday morning. Upon seeing the reports, Unnikrishnan Nair, an NRI businessman from Cherthala in Alappuzha , contacted the bank and repaid the outstanding amount that had grown to Rs 6.5 lakh due to interest and penalties.
Vijesh, a former coconut plucker, had taken the loan in 2013 to start a business. However, he suffered a fall in 2015, breaking his thighbone and forcing him to abandon work. He repaid Rs 37,000, but was unable to cover remaining debt.
Following the payment, revenue officials withdrew recovery proceedings and allowed the family to return home by the evening. “We don’t have any connection with Krishnankutty. He helped us and saved my family,” Vijesh said.
