Sangareddy, February 26: A British citizen, Mr. Steve, residing in a North American country donated US $ 1,000 to families of persons who committed suicide unable to repay the loans they had taken from micro finance institutions (MFIs).
After going through the reports on the Internet about the suicides in Andhra Pradesh, he contacted a reporter in the district headquarters and sent the money. A charitable trust – (Remilla Suryakantam and Annavadhanulu Charitable and Education Trust -) chipped in with Rs. 6,000 making it a round figure of Rs. 50,000.
The amount was handed over to five families – Sabiya Begum (Chinna Hyderabad), K. Narasmhulu (Toopran), J. Vijaya Lakshmi (Lachapet), Chinna Lachavva (Ramreddypet) and K. Ramadevi (Dommata)- by Collector S. Suresh Kumar here on Friday.
The Collector advised them to use the money to start small businesses.
DRDA project director P. Ravinder promised to sanction another Rs. 10,000 each to these families so that they can commence a small revenue generation activity to support their families.
-Agencies