Bhubaneswar: In a major relief for thousands of chit fund scam victims in Odisha, the small depositors will receive refunds of their deposited money by January 31 next year. The announcement was made by State BJP president Manmohan Samal, who said a formal government notification has already been issued, raising fresh hope among lakhs of affected families across the state.
Addressing reporters, Samal said the refund process will prioritise small depositors who were recommended by the inquiry commission but have not yet received any compensation. In the first phase, individuals who had deposited amounts ranging between ₹8,000 and ₹10,000 will be reimbursed.
According to Samal, the government has so far identified around five lakh new depositors, all of whom are expected to be covered under the refund exercise by the end of January.
Reiterating the BJP’s pre-election commitment, Samal said the promise made to chit fund victims is now being fulfilled. He noted that many depositors had already received refunds earlier and assured that the remaining small depositors would be provided financial assistance without further delay. He also clarified that the refund process would not be limited to small investors alone, adding that larger depositors would receive their money back in a phased manner.
Meanwhile, the move has been welcomed by Jayant Das, president of the joint platform of victims affected by financial institutions. He said the current government has expedited a process that had remained stalled during the previous regime. However, Das also stressed the need for comprehensive identification of all deprived depositors across the state and demanded that no eligible victim be left out of the compensation process.
The announcement is being seen as a significant step towards addressing one of Odisha’s most persistent financial distress issues, offering long-awaited relief to families impacted by chit fund scams.
