Debt relief program found lacking

Nearly 20 percent of municipal governments have not set up consultation counters for residents with multiple debts due to a shortage of funds and personnel, according to a Financial Services Agency survey.

Establishing such counters was the pillar of a relief program the central government implemented in April 2007 to address the problem of heavy personal debts, which have led to broken homes and suicides.

The survey found that 278 of all 1,823 cities, towns, villages and wards are not equipped with the counters. Twenty-four did not respond.(IHT/Asahi: May 15,2008)