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ITANAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated 75 digital banking units (DBUs) in 75 districts to mark Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (75-year of India's Independence) at a function in New Delhi on Sunday, virtually watched by Chief Ministers, ministers, MLAs, Central and State Government officers, besides local leaders across India.
All Northeastern States got one DBU (Digital Banking Unit) each except Nagaland, which got two, while Yes Bank got the chance to set up a DBU at Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh.
The event here was attended by State Urban Development Minister Kamlung Mossang, Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) Mayor Tame Phassang, Papum Pare Deputy Commissioner Sachin Rana, Yes Bank senior vice president (institutional & Government banking) Ravi Roy and Itanagar branch manager Anshuman Barthakur, corporator Tarh Accha, Arunachal Urban State Livelihood Mission (ArUSLM) State mission manager (financial inclusion) Hillang Tasap, among others.
Terming it a great initiative, Mossang said that the UD department offers loans of Rs 10,000 to street vendors and on satisfactory performance increases it to Rs 20,000, but non-cooperative attitude of banks creates hurdles, he said, and called upon the banks to change attitude towards the poor street vendors.
When asked about banking service at Vijaynagar in the Changlang district, he said that State Governor has written a letter for conducting CBSE examination at Vijaynagar, which would require electricity, bank and internet facility, which are lacking now.
Mayor Phassang also strongly voiced resentment against banks for causing inordinate delay in sanctioning various Government-linked schemes and loans, which is going against the Prime Minister Modi's call to make India 'Viswa Guru'. "It is high time for the banks to change their functioning," he said, and advocated such digital banking services in other parts of the State.
Arunachal's Papum Pare district in particular, is on focus as it had hosted an exporters' meet recently and the DBU has been set up now, DC Rana said, and lauded the gesture of the Centre to offer such great opportunity.
Responding to a question, Roy said that they have tied up with ArUSLM having 3,000 SHGs to achieve the target. The Yes Bank set up at Itanagar in 2010 has been offering best possible services to the people, he added.
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