Table of Contents
Bihar में Microfinance का जाल! महिलाएं कर्ज में फंसीं, Suicide तक की नौबत – Shocking Ground Report
The Hook (Intro)
यह पुराने साहूकारों की कहानी नहीं है। Bihar के गांवों में अब microfinance companies के recovery agents वो डर बन चुके हैं जो लोगों को suicide तक ले जा रहा है। 48 वर्षीय Siyaram Saw की मौत इस dark reality का सिर्फ एक चेहरा है – जहां कर्ज देने वाली कंपनियां पहले सपने दिखाती हैं, फिर परिवारों को बर्बादी के कगार पर ला देती हैं।
Quick Highlights
- Bihar India का सबसे बड़ा microfinance market: कुल ₹51,852 करोड़ outstanding loans
- 172 lakh loan accounts सिर्फ Bihar में, average loan size ₹30,167
- 95% borrowers महिलाएं हैं – जो अब debt spiral में फंस चुकी हैं
- Multiple suicides reported: Recovery agents की harassment के चलते मौतें
- Interest rates 23.9-24.5%: एक ₹40,000 के loan पर लगभग ₹12,000 सिर्फ ब्याज
Bihar का Microfinance Boom – Numbers Behind The Crisis
Bihar अब देश का largest microfinance market बन चुका है, लेकिन यह “success story” के पीछे एक dark reality छुपी है। 150 microfinance companies राज्य में operate कर रही हैं – Madhya Pradesh और Tamil Nadu के बाद तीसरे नंबर पर।
Bihar Microfinance Portfolio Breakdown
| Parameter | Figure | National Share |
|---|---|---|
| Total Outstanding Loans | ₹51,852 crore | 15% of India |
| Total Loan Accounts | 172 lakh | Highest in India |
| Average Loan Size | ₹30,167 | National: ₹28,500 |
| Rural Portfolio | ₹33,970 crore | 65% of state total |
| Rural Borrowers | 112 lakh accounts | Mostly women |
| Operating MFIs | 150 companies | 148 in rural areas |
| Female Borrowers | 95% | Nationwide pattern |
Source: Sa-Dhan (RBI-appointed regulatory body), October 2025 data
Siyaram Saw की मौत – एक पूरे Crisis की कहानी
Kab village, Patna में रहने वाले Siyaram Saw की कहानी हजारों बिहारी परिवारों का दर्पण है। Mumbai में daily-wage worker के रूप में काम करते थे, लेकिन stroke के बाद left side से paralysed हो गए।
The Spiral That Led to Death
घर लौटने पर पता चला कि उनकी पत्नी Tetari Devi (40) ने बेटी की शादी के लिए multiple microfinance companies से लगभग ₹2 lakh का कर्ज ले लिया था:
| Microfinance Company | Loan Amount (approx) | Weekly EMI |
|---|---|---|
| Fusion Microfinance | ₹60,000-70,000 | ₹1,800-2,000 |
| Bandhan Financial | ₹70,000-80,000 | ₹2,000-2,200 |
| SVCL (SV Creditline) | ₹40,000-50,000 | ₹1,200-1,500 |
| Total Debt | ~₹2 lakh | ~₹5,000/week |
Saw की disability के कारण income बंद हो गई। Weekly EMI चुकाना impossible हो गया। Recovery agent रोज आते, गालियां देते, धमकियां देते।
उस दिन क्या हुआ:
- मरने से एक दिन पहले: Recovery agent ने verbal abuse किया
- रात में: Saw और Devi में physical fight, चेहरे पर निशान
- सुबह: Devi गांव में मदद मांगने गई
- उसी समय: Saw ने खुद को फांसी लगा ली
“उस agent ने मेरे पिता को मरते देखा था, वो अभी जिंदा थे। वो उन्हें बचा सकता था। लेकिन वो भागकर गांव वालों को बुलाने गया,” बेटी Luchu Kumari (20) ने आंसुओं के साथ बताया।
Recovery Agents का Terror – “आज पैसे चाहिए, चाहे तुम मरो या जियो”
Saw की मौत के महीनों बाद भी recovery agents Tetari Devi के घर आते हैं। No FIR filed, no post-mortem report yet, लेकिन loan का pressure जारी है।
How Recovery System Works (Dark Reality)
| Recovery Practice | Reality on Ground |
|---|---|
| Visit Timing | Late evenings, even 8-9 PM |
| Pressure Tactics | Public shaming, verbal abuse, threats |
| Daily Targets | Agents must collect ₹5 lakh/day minimum |
| Salary Structure | Base: ₹12,000-13,000 + field allowance + incentives |
| Working Hours | 12-15 hours daily in field |
| Job Security | Tied to 100% recovery targets |
Sunil Kumar, जो पहले एक microfinance company में काम करते थे, ने बताया: “Employees को daily targets दिए जाते हैं। अगर target ₹5 lakh है तो वो पूरा करना ही होगा। वो घर-घर जाते हैं, बिना सोचे कि borrower repay कर पाएगा या नहीं। Company बहुत pressure डालती है।”
The Debt Spiral – कैसे बनता है ₹3 Lakh का Trap?
Muzaffarpur के Sakra में Bhukli Devi (74) और उनके पति Shivnath Das की double suicide ने पूरे गांव को हिला दिया। जो shocking था – Bhukli Devi के पास चार Aadhaar cards थे।
The Fraud Mechanism
Microfinance companies 60 साल से ऊपर की उम्र वालों को loan नहीं देतीं। लेकिन Bhukli Devi के एक Aadhaar card पर उम्र 51 साल दिखाई गई थी।
कैसे बढ़ता है debt:
- Initial Loan: ₹10,000-20,000 (household needs)
- Can’t Repay: ₹5,000 बाकी है तो agent कहता है, “हम ₹5,000 माफ कर देंगे, बस नया ₹20,000 loan लो”
- Confusion: Borrowers को लगता है loan कम हो गया
- Reality: Total debt ₹25,000 हो जाता है (₹5,000 old + ₹20,000 new)
- Final Stage: Multiple loans से total ₹2-3 lakh तक पहुंच जाता है
| Loan Stage | Amount | Purpose | Total Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Loan | ₹10,000 | Daily needs | ₹10,000 |
| Second Loan | ₹40,000 | Repay first + new needs | ₹50,000 |
| Third Loan | ₹60,000 | Repay second + emergencies | ₹1,10,000 |
| Fourth Loan | ₹1,00,000 | Desperate attempt | ₹2,10,000+ |
“वो agent उस दिन भी आया था, लेकिन जब घर में नहीं मिले तो चला गया। वो अक्सर कहते थे कि अब जान देने के अलावा कोई रास्ता नहीं,” पड़ोसी Sita Devi (55) ने बताया।
Couple ने गांव के sacred peepal tree पर फांसी लगा ली। यह 2 साल पहले की घटना है।
Interest Rates का गणित – ₹40,000 पर ₹12,000 ब्याज!
Bihar में operate करने वाली major companies और उनकी interest rates:
Major Microfinance Companies in Bihar
| Company Name | Interest Rate | Loan Tenure | Partner Bank | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBL FinServe | 24.5% p.a. | 24 months | RBL Bank | e-KYC mandatory |
| Fusion Microfinance | 23.9% p.a. | 24 months | Axis Bank | Rate reduces with timely payment |
| Sonata Finance | 22-24% p.a. | 18-24 months | Kotak Mahindra | Now part of Kotak |
| Bandhan Financial | 23-25% p.a. | 24 months | Bandhan Bank | Weekly collection |
| SVCL (SV Creditline) | 24% p.a. | 24 months | Various | Rural focus |
Actual Loan Calculation Example (RBL)
Loan Amount: ₹40,000
Interest Rate: 24.5% per annum
Tenure: 24 months (2 years)
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Principal | ₹40,000 |
| Total Interest (24.5%) | ~₹12,000 |
| Total Repayment | ₹52,000 |
| Monthly EMI | ₹2,167 |
| Interest as % of Principal | 30% |
Reality Check: लगभग one-third amount सिर्फ interest में चला जाता है।
Forced Land Sales और Family Breakdown
Fultmati, जो Deoria से Muzaffarpur migrate हुई थीं, ने दो companies से ₹20,000 और ₹80,000 के loans लिए।
What Happened:
- Payment में default किया
- Agents ने allegedly farmland seized कर ली
- Daily harassment
- 52 decimals जमीन ₹95,000 में बेचनी पड़ी
- Loan repay करने के बाद भी agents documents मांग रहे थे
Pattern of Exploitation
- Easy Approval: कोई भी eligible household को तुरंत loan (24 घंटे में)
- Multiple Loans: Same borrower को 4-7 companies से loans
- Hidden Costs: Processing fees, insurance (optional but pushed)
- Weekly Pressure: हर हफ्ते EMI collection
- No Exit: Repay करने के बाद भी harassment
Asma Khatun (Muzaffarnagar) ने 7 different companies से total ₹3 lakh+ loans लिए। Her sofa-making business failed. अब monthly ₹8,000 repayment करनी होती है – जो उनकी पूरी monthly income है।
RBI Rule: Monthly repayment household income का 50% से ज्यादा नहीं होना चाहिए। Ground reality: Many borrowers 80-100% income loans में दे रहे हैं।
The Employee Pressure Cooker – 12-15 घंटे Work, ₹12,000 Salary
Recovery agents भी system के victim हैं। Atul Raj, Fusion Microfinance के assistant branch manager, ने बताया:
Employee Working Conditions
| Aspect | Reality |
|---|---|
| Official Timing | 8 AM – 5:30 PM |
| Actual Working Hours | 12-15 hours (mostly field) |
| Base Salary | ₹12,000-13,000/month |
| Additional Income | Field allowance + collection incentives |
| Daily Target | ₹5 lakh collection minimum |
| Job Retention | 100% tied to meeting targets |
| Pressure | Extreme – from company management |
“अगर job रखनी है तो targets पूरे करने होंगे। इसके लिए वो अक्सर borrowers को pressure करते हैं, और collection में भी same intense pressure continue रहता है,” Sunil Kumar ने कहा।
RBI Guidelines vs Ground Reality – कागजों में सब ठीक
RBI’s 2022 Microfinance Framework में clear rules हैं, but implementation zero:
What RBI Says vs What Happens
| RBI Guideline | Ground Reality in Bihar |
|---|---|
| Target Households: Annual income ≤ ₹3 lakh | ✓ Mostly followed |
| Repayment Capacity: EMI ≤ 50% of monthly income | ✗ Many paying 80-100% |
| Max Lenders per Borrower: 4 (MFIN 2024 rule) | ✗ Borrowers have 6-7 loans |
| Total Exposure Cap: ₹2 lakh (MFIN rule) | ✗ Many have ₹3 lakh+ debt |
| Harassment Ban: No threatening behavior | ✗ Daily abuse reported |
| Death Insurance: Credit-linked coverage | ✓ Available but claim process unclear |
MFIN’s July 2024 “Guardrails”:
- No more than 4 MFIs per borrower
- Total exposure capped at ₹2 lakh
Ground Reality: Rules exist, enforcement doesn’t.
Government Schemes का Failure – JEEViKA भी नाकाफी
Bihar government की JEEViKA scheme (2007 से चल रही) self-help groups के through rural women को credit देती है।
JEEViKA vs Microfinance Companies
| Aspect | JEEViKA (Govt) | Microfinance Companies |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | 34,043 villages, 534 blocks | All rural Bihar |
| Eligibility | Only “rural poor households” (SHG members) | Any household earning ≤ ₹3 lakh/year |
| Loan Size | Smaller amounts | ₹20,000 – ₹1 lakh+ |
| Process | Slow, bureaucratic | 24-hour approval |
| Interest Rates | Lower (10-12%) | Higher (23-25%) |
| Reach | Limited to SHG members | Open access to all |
Problem: JEEViKA की reach limited है। 9 lakh+ SHGs होने के बावजूद, microfinance companies की तुलना में बहुत कम लोगों तक पहुंच पाती है।
Other Schemes:
- Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana: ₹10,000 given, but spent on daily needs
- Laghu Udyami Yojana: ₹2 lakh assistance announced but “exists only on paper”
Activist Meena Tiwari (AIPWA): “Beneficiaries को income certificates ही नहीं मिल पाते। Documents manage करने वालों को भी funds नहीं मिले।”
The Fake Aadhaar Scam – 74-Year-Old को 51 बताया गया
Bhukli Devi की case में 4 Aadhaar cards मिले – एक में उम्र 51 साल दिखाई गई, जबकि असल में वो 74 साल की थीं।
How The Fraud Works
- Age Limit: MFIs can’t lend to people above 60
- Solution: Microfinance workers arrange fake Aadhaar cards
- Method: Tie-up with Aadhaar operators
- Benefit: Companies can lend to elderly, expand customer base
- Risk: Borrowers don’t understand; families suffer after death
Police Investigation confirmed: एक microfinance worker और Aadhaar operator दोनों को arrest किया गया (Dainik Bhaskar report).
The Psychological Weapon – “Bhagwan Ko Sakshi Manke”
Microfinance companies एक psychological trick use करती हैं: Religious oath.
Bhukli Devi की passbook के back page पर लिखा था:
“Hum bhagwan ko sakshi manke ye loan le rhe hain aur shapath lete hain ki samay samay par lauta denge”
(We are taking this loan with God as our witness and pledge to repay it on time)
यह emotional pressure बनाता है कि loan न चुकाना = भगवान के साथ धोखा।
Children Paying Parents’ Debt – अगली Generation का Burden
Tetari Devi का सबसे छोटा बेटा, 14-year-old Sandeep Kumar, पिता की मौत के बाद Delhi चला गया काम करने।
“वो mill में काम करता है, ₹10,000-12,000 महीने कमाता है। ₹3,000 घर भेजता है। वो कहता है, ‘माँ, मैं सारा loan चुका दूंगा’,” Tetari Devi ने कहा।
The Generational Debt Trap
| Family Member | Age | Role | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Husband | 48 | Paralyzed, died by suicide | Original earner |
| Wife (Tetari) | 40 | Borrowed ₹2 lakh | Primary debtor |
| Daughter (Luchu) | 20 | New mother | Witnessing trauma |
| Son (Sandeep) | 14 | Working in Delhi | Repaying parents’ debt |
यह सिर्फ एक family नहीं है – हजारों Bihar families में same pattern repeat हो रहा है।
Expert Analysis – “Killing The Golden Goose”
Prof. Rabi Narayan Mishra (RBI Chair Professor, Gokhale Institute):
“What started as a way of helping the poor to get out of the poverty line turned into a game of exploitation. It was like killing the golden goose to get all the gold at one point of time.”
Historical Pattern (Matching Bangladesh’s Grameen Bank Crisis)
| Phase | Timeline | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| Growth Phase | 2000-2015 | Model worked well, low rates, human touch |
| Peak Phase | 2015-2020 | Rapid expansion, multiple loans to same households |
| Crisis Phase | 2020-2025 | Over-indebtedness, suicides, government intervention |
| Future | Post-2025 | Lower equilibrium expected after corrections |
“Interest rates rose, multiple loans were pushed onto the same households, and RBI eventually had to intervene and cap lending rates. This is exactly what happened in Bangladesh. We should have learned the lesson from there,” Mishra added.
Bihar’s Poverty Context – Why Microfinance Thrives
Bihar Economic Snapshot (2023-25 Data)
| Indicator | Bihar | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Poverty Rate | 33.76% | ~21% |
| Highest in India | Yes | – |
| Households earning <₹6,000/month | 34% | ~18% |
| Households earning <₹10,000/month | 64% | ~40% |
| Per Capita Income | ₹48,000 (approx) | ₹1.5 lakh |
| Migration for Work | 60%+ households have 1 migrant | Lower in other states |
Sa-Dhan’s Justification: “Currently, Bihar is heavily dependent on the remittance economy, as over 60% of households have at least one member working outside the state. MFIs in Bihar are trying to close this gap by providing working capital to young people.”
Reality: Desperation, not entrepreneurship, drives borrowing.
The Two Sides of Microfinance – Prosperity या Debt Trap?
The Positive Narrative (Industry Claims)
Sonata Finance Regional Manager (name withheld):
- “Nearly 90% of homes now pucca” (vs mostly kachcha a decade ago)
- Migration + Microfinance = Bihar’s prosperity drivers
- “People travelled outside, incomes rose, poverty reduced”
Sa-Dhan (Written Response to ThePrint):
- “Large share of loans (>90%) used for income generation”
- “Helped integrate households into credit network”
- “In regions where banking lagged, microfinance filled the gap”
The Dark Reality (Borrowers’ Experience)
- Multiple suicides due to recovery harassment
- Fake Aadhaar cards to bypass age limits
- Land seizures when families can’t repay
- Children working to repay parents’ loans
- 80-100% of income going toward EMIs (vs 50% RBI limit)
- No state-level regulation – RBI guidelines remain on paper
Sa-Dhan’s “Sankalp” Guidelines – कागजी सुधार
2024 में introduce हुए, 2025 में revised:
Sankalp Guidelines (On Paper)
- Lender Limits: Max 4 MFIs per household
- Exposure Caps: Combined MFI + retail exposure limits
- Credit Bureau Checks: Mandatory before disbursement
- Transparent Pricing: Clear disclosure of all charges
- Employee Verification: Background checks to reduce fraud
Enforcement: Sa-Dhan works with district officials, police, RBI regional offices, but thousands of families still waiting for justice.
Police Inaction – “They Dismiss Our Pleas”
Sub-Inspector Madan Jha (Rani Talab Thana) on Siyaram Saw’s case:
“It wasn’t about the loans or the companies. Devi admitted that Saw had hit her and that they had fought the previous night. We registered the case under the UD (unnatural death) category. Investigation is ongoing.”
Villagers’ Version: “Whenever we approach police about harassment from recovery agents, our pleas are routinely dismissed.”
Activist Meena Tiwari: “Only a single case in Siwan district has ever been registered against microfinance companies. Police rarely file FIRs.”
What Needs to Change – Solutions
Immediate Reforms Needed
- State-Level Regulation: Bihar government must create enforcement mechanism
- Recovery Agent Training: Ban on threatening behavior, strict monitoring
- Awareness Campaigns: Borrowers must know their rights (settlement options, extensions)
- Credit Bureau Integration: Stop multiple loans to same household
- Police Training: FIRs must be filed for harassment cases
- Interest Rate Caps: 23-25% too high for poorest state
- Grievance Redressal: Dedicated helpline and fast-track resolution
- Government Credit Expansion: Scale up JEEViKA and other schemes
Prof. Mishra: “The benefits rose very fast, then they had to fall one day. And then it will come back—but at a lower equilibrium.”
The Human Cost – Voices From The Ground
Tetari Devi (40): “उस दिन भी agent आया था। मेरे पति की मौत के महीनों बाद भी वो आते रहते हैं। कुछ भी खत्म नहीं हुआ।”
Luchu Kumari (20): “Agent ने मेरे पिता को मरते देखा, लेकिन बचाने की बजाय भागकर गांव वालों को बुलाने गया।”
Asma Khatun: “वो कहते थे, ‘तुम्हारे पास ₹10,000 loan है और ₹5,000 बाकी है, तो हम ₹5,000 माफ कर देंगे – बस ₹20,000 का नया loan लो.’ हमें calculations समझ नहीं आते थे।”
Elderly woman (Paliganj): “मेरे बेटे ने दूसरे state में जाकर शादी कर ली। अब loan collectors मेरे पास आते हैं, लेकिन मेरे पास कुछ नहीं है।”
Opinion/Conclusion
Bihar की microfinance success story एक deadly debt trap में बदल चुकी है। जो sector गरीबों को poverty से बाहर निकालने के लिए बना था, वही अब उन्हें suicide तक ले जा रहा है। RBI guidelines, MFIN rules, Sa-Dhan guardrails – सब कागजों पर ही रह गए हैं। Ground reality में महिलाएं ₹3 lakh+ debt में फंस रही हैं, recovery agents धमकी दे रहे हैं, और 14-year-old बच्चे माता-पिता के कर्ज चुका रहे हैं। It’s time for Bihar government and RBI to wake up – before more Siyaram Saws and Bhukli Devis end their lives.
FAQ Section
Q1: Bihar में microfinance companies कितनी हैं और कितना loan outstanding है?
Bihar में 150 microfinance companies operate कर रही हैं (148 rural areas में), total ₹51,852 crore outstanding loans across 172 lakh accounts – India’s largest market.
Q2: क्या microfinance loan की interest rates बहुत ज्यादा हैं?
हां, major companies 23-25% p.a. charge करती हैं; ₹40,000 के loan पर लगभग ₹12,000 (30%) सिर्फ interest में जाता है over 2 years.
Q3: Recovery agents की harassment के खिलाफ क्या कर सकते हैं borrowers?
Technically RBI guidelines ban harassment, और companies settlements/extensions offer करती हैं, लेकिन police rarely file FIRs और borrowers को अपने rights की जानकारी नहीं होती.
Tags
Bihar microfinance debt, microfinance loans Bihar, Bihar women debt trap, microfinance suicide cases, recovery agent harassment, Bihar poverty, microfinance interest rates, JEEViKA scheme Bihar, Fusion Microfinance Bihar, Bandhan Microfinance Bihar
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