In the 124th State level Bankers Committee meeting, Chief Secretary Sudripta Roy stressed upon creating livelihoods for accelerating the pace of socio-economic growth of the State. He urged the bankers and officers of the State Government to generate economic activities which remained untapped so far in potential sectors especially in primary sector like agriculture, horticulture etc.
Sudripta Roy urged the banks to come forward to invest in infrastructural financing which had vast potential in the State and added that Government was encouraging public private partnership in the core areas. He also stressed on focusing upon micro financing in a big way.
He said that, banks have disbursed fresh credit to the tune of Rs. 9656 crore during last financial year under various schemes in the State benefitting about 3.24 lakh beneficiaries. He said that overall financial targets were surpassed by 128 percent against annual targets fixed in the credit plan 2011-12. He said that business of banks have grown by 14.48 percent during previous year and had successfully surpassed five National parameters out of six priority areas stipulated by Reserve Bank of India. He said that banks have targeted to disburse Rs. 9348 crore in the current year by increase of 24 percent over the previous credit plan outlay.
While reviewing the progress under Financial inclusion in the State, the Chief Secretary said that all 44 villages having population above 2000 which were covered by banks through Business Correspondent (BC) Model would be converted in Ultra Small Branch type of banking outlet, a new concept recently introduced by Ministry of Finance to provide banking and financial services in sustainable manner. He said that banks have identified 532 unbanked villages having population of above 1000 in the State which were to be covered with banking outlets within this financial year.
Sudripta Roy said that at present State was having network of 1564 bank branches out of which 75 new bank branches were opened in the previous year. In addition, banks have installed 612 ATMs as additional delivery channels for providing banking services, he added. He urged the bankers to install ATMs in all bank branches dealing in government treasury business on priority besides utilizing the service of Lok Mitra Kendras as a part of sub agent of BC under implementation of ICT based banking services at the door steps of the people.
He said that Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme had been modified to make more farmer friendly and Government of India had directed the banks not to charge processing fee on advances under KCC scheme upto Rs. three lakh. He urged the banks to launch awareness campaign for enrollment of existing as well as new farmers under the fold of KCC Scheme at grass root level to give fillip to credit expansion under agriculture sector.
Sudripta Roy said that a centrally sponsored new scheme for formation of Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in district Sirmaur identified amongst the 23 backward districts across the country was launched recently under which banks would finance 995 SHGs during the current fiscal year.
S. Chandrasekharan, Executive Director UCO Bank said that banks have planned to lend Rs. 3211 crore for Agriculture Sector under Annual Credit Plan 2012-13. He said deposit in banks have grown by 15 percent and maintained at the level of 42813 crore while annual growth in advances registered at 14 percent and reached the level of Rs. 22146 crore upto March, 2012. B Venkat Ramana, General Manager, UCO Bank welcomed the Chief Secretary.
Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Principal Secretary, Finance, Shri S.K. Jindal, Director Financial Services, Government of India, Shri Naresh Gupta, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Representatives of various banks and senior officers of State Government attended the meeting.
