Nirmala Sitharaman directs banks to provide best services to the tea community

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has directed the public sector banks to ensure seamless operation of tea workers’ accounts in Assam. The banks have also been asked to offer their best possible services to the tea community. With regard to the development of infrastructure, the Union Finance Minister stated that setting up more cold storage facilities was a priority of the government. She also stated that Sivasagar in Assam has been identified as one of the five archaeological sites to be developed as iconic sites.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday evening, Sitharaman added that the tea garden workers’ bank accounts currently not in operation due to non-compatibility on various grounds have to be reconciled by March 15. She added that the banks have been asked to settle at the earliest issues such as lack of adequate documents among tea workers to run their accounts.

State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was also present at the press conference, said that the State Government with the help of State Bank of India (SBI) had opened eight lakh bank accounts for the tea workers to transfer their wages and for various other financial assistances. He, however, said that 30 per cent of such accounts (2.5 lakh) are inoperative due to the issue of non-updating of KYC.

Inaugurating the three-day-long ‘Financial Inclusion Outreach Initiative for North East’ at the playground of College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara here, Sitharaman said, “The Assam Government will come out with a map to install ATMs in 17 districts where the tea community has sizeable numbers. The issue of connectivity to operate the ATMs without hiccups will be settled by the State Government in association with the network service providers and banks.”

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman added that the number of ‘Bank Mitras’ will be increased to carry cash to the difficult areas across the State.

Asked whether Delhi violence and the movement against the CAA have proved to be a setback for foreign investments in India, Sitharaman replied that such issues have not distracted the investors. She added that during her recent visit to Saudi Arabia to attend the G20 Summit, a number of foreign investors showed their keenness to come to India.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday also attended the ‘Jan Jan Ka Budget’ programme – an interaction programme between Sitharaman and traders, industry representatives, academicians, economists and policy experts at the Assam Administrative Staff College here.

PIB adds: Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal said that the Budget is a boon for farmers with 60 new schemes under the ‘Aspirational India’ initiatives, which reflects the Prime Minister’s desire to double farmer’s income by 2020. The ‘Jal Vikas Marg’ scheme of the government will not only help the economy of Assam but also the entire country, he added.

In the interactive session, Secretary (Finance & DFS) Rajeev Kumar, Secretary (Revenue) Dr Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Union Secretary for Economic Affairs Atanu Chakraborty, Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes PC Mody, Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) M Ajit Singh and Chief Secretary of Assam Kumar Sanjay Krishna were present.

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