Nearly 400 victims of predatory lending from across Nepal began another march to Kathmandu on Thursday, saying the government has failed to implement past agreements and that loan sharks continue to harass borrowers.

Among them is Chandeshwar Prasad Mandal of ward 9 in Ramgopalpur Municipality of Mahottari district, who borrowed Rs80,000 on April 3, 2014, from local moneylender Ran Kishor Yadav to cover medical expenses after an accident.

The interest mounted so rapidly that Mandal eventually agreed to pay Rs520,000 to settle the debt. Even after making the payment in the presence of officials at the Mahottari District Administration Office, he says his ordeal did not end.

According to Mandal, the lender later sued him despite returning the loan principal and interest to the bank account of the lender’s son, Indra Kumar Yadav.

The lender also sought to claim Mandal’s five kattha two dhur (approximately 1,727 square metres) land, which had been pledged as collateral. The case has moved from the district court to the Supreme Court.

“I borrowed Rs80,000 and ended up paying Rs520,000. Even then, the harassment never stopped,” Mandal said. “I have lost my money, and my land remains under court restriction.”

Mandal has also filed a case accusing the lender of fraudulent transactions and cheating.

“He claims to be ill and avoids appearing whenever officials call him for mediation,” Mandal said. “My life has been ruined. I am walking all the way to Kathmandu to tell Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s government about my suffering.”

The march, organised by the Farmers and Workers Movement Against Loan Sharking Nepal, began from Tirhutiya gaachhi in Janakpur as the third phase of a nationwide campaign.

Also joining the march are Indra Bahadur Darji, 52, and Tilak Ram Chaudhary, 53, both from Nawalparasi West.

Darji said he had borrowed Rs300,000 from a moneylender named Kamal Dev Chamar but was deceived into signing two separate loan agreements bearing different lenders’ names.

“I signed two documents, but I was given only one copy,” Darji said. “The other document was hidden from me. I have already lost 12 dhurs of land (203.16 square metres), and the case is still before the court. I don't know how much more land I will lose.”

Darji carried his personal belongings in a backpack, uncertain how long he would have to remain on the road or in Kathmandu.

“We will not return home if our case is not resolved this time, ” he said.

According to Darji, at least 41 other borrowers who took loans from the same lender also claim to have been victimised.

Sarvajit Raya of Janakpur said he borrowed Rs1.387 million from Surendra Pandey and has already repaid Rs2.2 million.

“He took my money and then filed a court case against me,” Raya said. “Now all my property has been frozen.”

Phulo Devi Ram, a member of the Dom community from Tarapatti in Dhanusha district, borrowed Rs150,000 for her daughter's wedding. Despite repaying Rs200,000 in an attempt to settle the matter, she says the lender refused to end the dispute.

“He filed cases against me and had my property frozen,” she said. “I have been left with nothing.”

Another protester, Bipatiya Dom, borrowed Rs200,000 from Ram Ishwar Chaudhary of Janakpur to pay for his daughter's marriage.

After leaving for foreign employment, Bipatiya sent Rs300,000 home for his wife, Kushabi, to repay the loan. She handed it to the lender.

“The lender said he had torn up the loan document when my wife asked for it,” said Bipatiya.

Believing the debt had been cleared, Bipatiya returned home after completing his overseas job. But the lender later claimed no payment had been made.

“He denied receiving the money during community mediation,” Bipatiya said. “He took the money, filed a case against me and even had my three-dhur (50.79 square metres) plot auctioned off. My family has been devastated.”

During the first march by loan shark victims in 2023, Kushabi had walked 12 days to reach Kathmandu.

The protesters, representing 35 districts, plan to spend Thursday night near Mahendranagar in Dhanusha before continuing through Bardibas, Pathlaiya and Hetauda, eventually crossing Kulekhani to reach Kathmandu in about 15 days.

Manoj Paswan, one of the movement's leaders, said women and men were participating in significant numbers.

Awadhesh Kushawaha, chair of the Farmers and Workers Movement Against Loan Sharking Nepal, said the protesters were demanding the cancellation of fraudulent loan documents, a strong law against predatory lending, the establishment of a special tribunal to handle loan shark cases, investigations into the assets of moneylenders, the return of property seized from victims and fair lending practices.

“We expect to reach Kathmandu within 15 days,” Kushawaha said. “Around 400 to 500 people joined the march from Janakpur, and more victims will join us in every district we pass through.”

Participants have collected between Rs50 and Rs200 each to cover food and accommodation during the journey.

“We will launch a larger Kathmandu-centric protest by bringing together victims from across the country if the government still ignores our demands after the 15-day march,” he said.

This is the third march organised by loan shark victims.

Although the government has previously formed three commissions and one task force to address the problem, protesters say little has changed.

Most recently, on March 12, 2024, the government and representatives of loan shark victims signed a four-point agreement during talks led by then deputy prime minister and home minister Rabi Lamichhane.

Under the agreement, the government committed to forming a three-member commission per the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1969. Such a commission would submit a report within three months. The agreement also said the commission would review cases already referred to the police as well as new complaints filed after its formation.

The protesters say those commitments remain largely unfulfilled, prompting them to return to the streets once again.