Activists and family members in Kerala are calling for the revival of Operation Kubera to combat illegal money lending [1].

The plea highlights a critical need to protect vulnerable families from debt-related distress. In regions where informal lending thrives, the absence of regulatory oversight often leads to predatory practices that push low-income households into severe financial crises.

Operation Kubera was originally launched in 2019 [1]. The initiative focused on identifying illegal lenders and providing a framework to protect borrowers from harassment, and extortion. By targeting the root causes of debt traps, the program aimed to stabilize the financial security of marginalized citizens.

Advocates said the current environment necessitates a return to these targeted interventions. They argue that the resurgence of illegal lending networks has left many families without legal recourse or financial protection. The push for revival comes as a response to the ongoing struggle of those trapped in cycles of high-interest debt.

Those requesting the program's return said the original framework of Operation Kubera provided a necessary deterrent against unlicensed lenders. The goal is to reinstate a system where the state can actively intervene to dismantle illegal lending rings and offer support to those in debt distress [1].

Local organizers said that without a structured state response, the burden of debt continues to fall on the most vulnerable. The effort to bring back the initiative seeks to restore the protections that were established during the first phase of the operation.

“Activists and family members in Kerala are calling for the revival of Operation Kubera”

The push to revive Operation Kubera suggests that previous legislative or social efforts to curb informal lending in Kerala have been insufficient. If the government reinstates the program, it may signal a shift toward more aggressive enforcement against unlicensed moneylenders to prevent systemic poverty and debt-driven social crises.