Collector helps woman reclaim her home

Nellore Collector steps in on Women’s Day

After verifying the circumstances, officials intervened and cleared the encroachment on the house, restoring possession of the property to Vijayakumari. For Vijayakumari the moment marked the end of months of distress

Metro India News | AMARAVATI 

In a heartening example of responsive governance and humane administration, the District Collector of Nellore, Himanshu Shukla, ensured justice for a woman who had been struggling for months to reclaim her house that was allegedly taken over through coercion over a loan dispute. The intervention, which came on International Women’s Day, brought relief to the victim and highlighted the district administration’s commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens.

The beneficiary, Peram Vijayakumari, a resident of Shantinagar in Buchireddypalem town, had been facing severe hardship after losing possession of her home due to a long-standing debt dispute. According to her account, her parents had borrowed Rs 70,000 from a local lender, Nakka Lellayya, several years ago to finance her brother’s marriage. However, before the debt could be fully settled, both of her parents passed away.

Following their death, Vijayakumari alleged that the lender forced her to sign documents inflating the loan amount to Rs 3 lakh, including an additional Rs 2.3 lakh. She said she paid Rs 9,000 per month as interest for nearly three years. Over time, she claimed to have repaid the entire amount of Rs 3 lakh, but the lender continued to demand an additional Rs 50,000 and refused to return the property documents. Eventually, the house was allegedly occupied by the lender, leaving her and her children without shelter.

Forced to vacate her home, Vijayakumari spent nearly four months moving between relatives’ houses, struggling to support her children while seeking a solution to the dispute. With no other option left, she approached the District Collector at the Nellore Collectorate and submitted a petition requesting help in reclaiming her property.

Moved by her plea, Collector Himanshu Shukla ordered an immediate inquiry into the matter. Acting on his directions, the Buchireddypalem Municipal Commissioner conducted a detailed investigation on March 7, 2026. After verifying the circumstances, officials intervened and cleared the encroachment on the house, restoring possession of the property to Vijayakumari.

For Vijayakumari, the moment marked the end of months of distress. Expressing her gratitude, she said she was relieved to finally return to her home with her children. “Justice has been done. I can now live in my own house again with my children. I will remain grateful to the Collector for the rest of my life,” she said emotionally.

Speaking on the issue, Collector Himanshu Shukla issued a stern warning against illegal moneylending practices and harassment in the name of debt recovery. He said acts such as charging exorbitant interest, forcing borrowers to sign documents under pressure, and illegally seizing property are unacceptable and illegal.

The Collector stressed that exploiting economically vulnerable families in the name of loans amounts to both financial and social injustice and will not be tolerated. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against individuals who harass borrowers, threaten them, or attempt to seize their properties unlawfully.

Shukla also noted that Vijayakumari’s case reflects a larger social issue, as similar incidents of harassment by informal lenders are reported in several places. He urged victims of such exploitation to come forward and approach authorities without fear. “People should not suffer silently due to intimidation or coercion. If anyone is being harassed or dispossessed in the name of debt, they should immediately bring the matter to the notice of the authorities,” the Collector said.

The administration’s intervention has not only restored a home to a struggling family but also sent a strong message that exploitation in the name of debt will face strict scrutiny and action in the district.