Core Activities
This section “What We Do” outlines the core activities and goals of the Suryashakthi Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting the rights, dignity, and financial freedom of credit borrowers in India. We explain each component in detail about the foundation’s mission, aligning with the organisation’s commitment to addressing systemic issues in the financial sector.
1. Legal Activism
Suryashakthi Foundation takes on legal battles in India’s highest judicial forums, including High Courts and the Supreme Court, to challenge the misuse of laws like the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act (SARFAESI), the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act (CICR), and data privacy laws. These laws are often exploited by banks, credit bureaus, and fintech lenders to harass or unfairly penalize borrowers. By pursuing strategic litigation, the foundation seeks to set legal precedents that protect borrowers from systemic abuse, such as wrongful asset seizures or unfair credit reporting practices.
Turning Courtrooms into Catalysts for Justice
At Suryashakthi Foundation, we believe that the law is not just a set of rules—it’s a battleground for dignity, fairness, and systemic change. Our legal activism stands at the frontline of this fight.
Whether it’s confronting harassment, abuse of debt recovery powers, or data exploitation, we use litigation to make invisible suffering impossible to ignore.
Strategic Litigation with Purpose
We file Public Interest Litigations (PILs) in High Courts and the Supreme Court to challenge systemic violations under:
- SARFAESI Act
- Credit Information Companies Regulation Act (CICRA)
- Consumer Protection Act
- Right to Privacy under Article 21
- and emerging digital lending regulations
Defending the Defenseless
We file Public Interest Litigations (PILs) in High Courts and the Supreme Court to challenge systemic violations under:
- Face coercive recovery measures
- Are publicly humiliated through social media or auction notices
- Are publicly humiliated through social media or auction notices
- Have been victims of unauthorized data use or credit profiling
Educating & Empowering
Through workshops, webinars, and downloadable legal guides, we equip citizens with a clear understanding of:
- Their constitutional rights as borrowers
- Legal remedies against harassment or defamation
- How to assert protections under RBI, DRT, and consumer regulations
We’re not just filing petitions—we’re building a legally literate movement for financial justice.
Legal Watchdog for a Safer Tomorrow
We actively monitor:
- Changes in banking laws and fintech regulation
- Digital lending practices and credit bureau misconduct
- Policy gaps exploited by collection agencies and asset reconstruction companies
When necessary, we launch pre-emptive legal challenges before harmful norms become entrenched.
Strategic Litigation with PurposeLandmark Impact ( Launching Soon)
We’re preparing a live dashboard to showcase:
- PILs filed & their outcomes
- Cases supported
- Systemic reforms influenced
Impact: All the above works ensures that borrowers facing genuine financial distress are not unjustly targeted and that legal frameworks are enforced fairly. Our goal is to establish borrower-friendly legal precedents and dismantle policies that enable financial abuse.
Your support fuels this work. Whether you’re a legal professional, borrower, or concerned citizen—you can be part of this legal revolution.
2. Public Advocacy
Through high-impact campaigns, including viral social media initiatives and media exposés, the foundation brings attention to hidden injustices in the financial system. This includes exposing aggressive debt collection tactics, public shaming of borrowers, and unethical practices by financial institutions. By amplifying these issues, Suryashakthi fosters public awareness and pressure for accountability, engaging citizens, media, and policymakers to drive change.
Impact: Legal protection offers a safety net, ensuring borrowers are not penalized for circumstances beyond their control.
3. Policy Reform
The foundation conducts research to support petitions and Public Interest Litigations (PILs) aimed at reforming policies that enable financial exploitation. These efforts target systemic issues, such as unchecked power of banks and credit agencies, to advocate for consumer-friendly regulations. By influencing policy, Suryashakthi seeks to create long-term, structural changes that prevent discrimination and abuse in the financial sector.
When necessary, we launch pre-emptive legal challenges before harmful norms become entrenched.
Impact: Policy reform addresses root causes, ensuring sustainable protections for borrowers nationwide.
4. Legal Protection for Borrowers Who Default Due to Genuine Hardship
The foundation provides legal support to borrowers who face default due to unavoidable circumstances, such as medical emergencies, job loss, or economic downturns. This includes challenging unfair loan recovery actions and advocating for leniency or restructuring options to prevent loss of assets or livelihoods.
Impact: Legal protection offers a safety net, ensuring borrowers are not penalized for circumstances beyond their control.
5. Dignity and Respect for Struggling Entrepreneurs and Families
Suryashakthi works to restore dignity to borrowers, particularly entrepreneurs and families, who face public humiliation or social stigma due to financial struggles. This involves campaigning against aggressive debt collection practices, such as public shaming or harassment, and promoting a culture of empathy within the financial system.
Impact: Upholding dignity helps borrowers maintain their social standing and mental well-being, fostering resilience during financial recovery.
6. Privacy & Data Protection from Credit Bureaus, Banks, and Digital Platforms
The foundation fights against the misuse of borrowers’ personal data by credit bureaus, banks, and digital lending platforms. This includes challenging unauthorized data sharing, inaccurate credit reporting, and violations of privacy laws. Suryashakthi advocates for transparent and ethical data practices to protect borrowers from exploitation.
Impact: Increased awareness equips borrowers to advocate for themselves, reducing vulnerability to exploitation.
7. Systemic Reform of SARFAESI, DRT, Credit Scoring & Collection Practices
The foundation pushes for reforms in key financial frameworks, including SARFAESI, Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRT), credit scoring systems, and debt collection practices. These reforms aim to make processes fairer, such as ensuring transparent credit scoring and humane collection methods, to prevent systemic bias against borrowers.
Impact: Systemic reform creates a more equitable financial ecosystem, reducing instances of unfair treatment.
8. Awareness and Education about Borrowers' Rights and Remediesa
Suryashakthi educates borrowers about their legal rights and available remedies under Indian laws. Through workshops, online resources, and community outreach, the foundation empowers individuals to understand their protections against unfair practices and navigate the financial system confidently.
Impact: Increased awareness equips borrowers to advocate for themselves, reducing vulnerability to exploitation.
9. Community Support and Rehabilitation for Borrowers
Suryashakthi works to restore dignity to borrowers, particularly entrepreneurs and families, who face public humiliation or social stigma due to financial struggles. This involves campaigning against aggressive debt collection practices, such as public shaming or harassment, and promoting a culture of empathy within the financial system.
Impact: Community support and rehabilitation empower borrowers to regain financial independence, reducing recidivism into debt traps and fostering long-term economic resilience.