Shillong: Rajya Sabha member James PK Sangma is pushing Punjab National Bank to dump a restrictive lending policy. This rule blocks many Meghalaya tribals from getting housing, mortgage, and farm loans. He led a high-level meeting in Shillong on August 28 with Chief Secretary Shakil P Ahammed and Law Secretary Cyril V. Diengdoh.
The bank demands a 13-year chain of registered link deeds. This requirement stops many tribal landholders from securing institutional credit. Sangma argued that other public sector banks do not force this standard on local borrowers. The current practice ignores the state’s specific legal and administrative context for land ownership.
PNB executive director D Surendran attended the talks alongside the zonal head, circle head, and other officials from Guwahati and local branches. The bank has requested 60 days to fix the issue. They committed to finishing the process by the last week of October.
This battle has dragged on for 18 months. Families have suffered. “This matter has been ongoing for the last 18 months, causing real hardship to our tribal families and communities,” Sangma said. He warned that he will track the bank to ensure they implement changes in letter and in spirit. PNB must now align its norms with other banks or answer for the continued exclusion of tribal applicants.
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