“Gujarat poised to take lead to provide better financial services to India”
“SLBC need to take the banking services to a higher level, befitting Gujarat’s unique all round ‘development model” – Narendra Modi
Gandhinagar, Wednesday: Even as Gujarat is poised to take a lead in providing improved financial services to the nation, Chief Minister Narendra Modi today called upon the State Level Banking Committee (SLBC) to improve the banking services in the state to a level higher than the normal parameters befitting Gujarat’s unique all round ‘development model’.
Addressing the 132nd meeting of SLBC, he asked the Gujarat’s lead bank, Dena Bank, to evolve and prioritize an action plan after carrying out a comprehensive study of the new directions and avenues opening up in various fields.
Mr. Modi asked the banking sector to map Gujarat’s growth story. He cited the example of Gujarat Government’s initiative like decentralizing the administration down to the taluka (block or subdivision) level under the ATVT scheme.
He wished the banks partner the government to develop the 37 backward talukas in the state. Banks have social responsibilities as well as an active role to play for 43 universities in the state. He suggested banks could install CCTVs at their branches facing the roads too, as a strong security measure.
Mr. Modi said the entire eastern tribal belt, starting from Ambaji in the north to Umargam in the south, is in for a new awakening of sorts. It is time the banks evolve strategy to finance tribal farmers of the region. Similarly, he said, people living in the coastal and semi-arid regions of Kutch need ‘area specific’ strategy to solve their specific shortcomings.
The Chief Minister said that Gujarat has a data bank of 42.09 lakh land holding farmers which could be utilized in disbursing kisan credit cards. The farmers are now showing a growing interest in value-addition to farming. There is need for loans to create agriculture infrastructure in the form of cold storage, warehouses, technology dissemination centres and human resources development. Gujarat’s Sakhi Mandalis is another area waiting for urgent financial support to the tune of Rs.5,000-crore.
Earlier, Dena Bank CMD Nupur Mitra gave details of the bankers’ committee’s agenda and activities in the state.
Indian Bankers Association Chairman and Bank of Baroda CMD M.D. Malya said the Gujarat’s model of advancing loans in rural areas and creating saving habit among women has proved to be a model scheme.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Gujarat’s Minister of State for Finance Saurabh Patel, Chief Secretary A. K. Joti, Gujarat SLBC Convener Suresh Patel, NABARD CGM Dave, RBI’s Sudarshan Sen and senior officers of banks and government.
