Siddarth Sethia
Targets for disbursing agricultural and non-agricultural loans must be doubled.Banks play a crucial role in the economic development of the district and officials and bankers must work in coordination, said former Chief Minister and Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai.
Presiding over the District-Level Progress Review Committee and the District-Level Bankers’ Advisory Committee meeting held on Thursday at the Zilla Panchayat Hall,he stressed the need to increase the bank deposit ratio. “
It is my dream for Haveri district to become economically strong and number one.Instead of giving excuses,work with a sense of responsibility”.
He pointed out that maize and sugarcane are grown in abundance in the district and stressed the need to identify which crops require more focus.
The banks must prioritize loans not just for crop cultivation but also for allied sectors like dairy farming and poultry.
Officials must immediately open new branches at Chandapur in Shiggaon taluk and Hosaritti in Haveri taluk.A letter must be sent to the RBI in this regard.
The MP warned the Karnataka Bank officials that the bank’s credit-deposit (CD) ratio must be improved. Deposits collected from drought-prone regions are being used for lending in coastal areas.
This practice must stop, and the local population should get access to loan facilities.Otherwise,suitable action will be taken.
He further warned the DBS Bank officials, saying their CD ratio must reach 100 per cent and if not, a letter would be sent to the RBI.
Under the NRLM scheme, 50,000 self-help groups (SHGs) across the taluks of the district must be registered, and banks should provide loans to help them generate employment.
Bommai also called for loans to be extended to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes,Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections,minorities,women,and other sectors.
Citing complaints about language barriers in banking transactions,the former CM instructed banks to ensure that at least two to three staff members in each branch are proficient in Kannada.
Every bank in the district should make loan facilities available to all sectors.As the district houses several educational institutions,including medical,engineering, diploma,and law colleges,educational loans should be given top priority.
From street vendors to large-scale entrepreneurs, several financial assistance schemes are in place.Loans are available for allied sectors such as dairy, fisheries, and small-scale industries.
Authorities should ensure these schemes reach the eligible beneficiaries and intensify publicity efforts, he directed.
The MP also instructed agricultural officers to ensure that there is no shortage of fertilizers in the district and to prevent their sale at inflated prices.
Strict monitoring should also be conducted to prevent the sale of substandard seeds, and immediate action must be taken if such incidents are found.
Progress of various schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Amrit Kurigahi Yojana, and Swanidhi Yojana was reviewed during the meeting.
On this occasion,a compensation cheque of Rs 38,45,776 was handed over to the family of a customer holding an account in the Bank of Baroda branch, who had passed away in an accident.
Lead Bank Manager Jeevan provided updates on the progress of banks in the district.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Dr. Vijay Mahantesh Danammanavar, Zilla Panchayat CEO Ruchi Bindal, Bank officials Pankaj Kumar, Suraj N, KVGB Regional Officer Somashekhar, NABARD official Ranganath, and other regional bank officers.
