CM harps on farm loans at bankers meet

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, March 17: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today asked banks operating in the State to focus on sectors like agriculture and horticulture which are linked to employment generation.

Gogoi was speaking at the meeting of the Special State Level Bankers Committee here.

“Banks should focus on supporting the farming community. The process of granting loans should be simplified to ensure that the common man can have easy access,” Gogoi said.

The Chief Minister said called upon banks to give adequate attention to the social aspects, alongside their commercial aspects.

Stressing upon increasing the credit-deposit ratio, Gogoi said banks should spruce up their activities in the State as the “situation (law and order) in the State is now better”.

Gogoi however expressed annoyance that some banks were reluctant to issue Kisan Credit Cards to farmers.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr MG Vaidyan, DMD (RS), SBI, stated that the credit-deposit ratio, which was 45 per cent two years back when the last meeting of the state-level bankers was held, has increased to 65 per cent as on date.

“Till the last meeting (February, 2013), banks have disbursed loans to the tune of Rs 3,800 crore in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector,” he said.

Dr Vaidyan informed that a total of 2,031 branches of different banks are currently operatiol in the State. Some 51.52 household accounts are being operated by the banks in the State.

The senior banker, however, pointed to the problems of loan recovery and asked the State government to take initiative on the issue.

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