"The crushing burden of microcredit" from France 24

[Guest]

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[Ash]

A very disturbing report from one of the pioneers of microcredit & indeed who got the Noble peace prize -I'm glad the MFIs on Kiva aren't like these guys!: http://www.france24.com/en/20080404-bangladesh-burden-microcredit-caring-grameen-bank-mohammed-yunnus

'But the situation is far from rosy in Kalihati, one of the first Bangladeshi villages to benefit from Grameen’s low interest credit scheme. The villagers here who have taken a loan are unable to reimburse their credit, and claim to be harassed by Grameen Bank representatives. Korshed Alom, a former debt collector, was put into early retirement for having questioned the Grameen Bank’s methods: “Their technique is to scare borrowers and insult them. We tell them to sell their clothes, that they have no other choice. I’m not proud of myself, but several times, I had even been obliged to say ‘sell your children.’”'

[Unilove]

I read the tiny article.  I am not familiar with the originator.  It was very brief and cited little in the way of support.  The closing comment: "The Bank’s representatives choose not to respond to these accusations. It is impossible to obtain an interview with Mohammed Yunus, and the Grameen Bank headquarters are off-limits for journalists who are too curious" seemed opinionated and not unbiased.  How was the bank contacted?  How long did they give them to respond?  How was Dr. Yunus contacted?  He tours around the world and is now in the U.S. setting up a branch, I believe.  So, how could they even schedule an interview?  They don't provide any details.  As for the headquarters being off-limits to journalists  "who are too curious" that is an opinion and a judgement.  This article did not sound unbiased or thoroughly researched to me, in my humble opinion.