Take Action Against Banks, MLAs Urge Assam Government
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Assam government has come down heavily on some of the nationalized banks for delaying the loan-sanctioning process for beneficiaries of government schemes. The government also expressed its displeasure at the “the very low Credit-Deposit (CD) ratio” of the banks in the State. Referring to these instances, several legislators of the ruling party (BJP) on Thursday demanded strong action against such banks. They also urged the government to compel the banks to release such loans at the earliest.
Reacting to the demands of the MLAs during Question Hour, Industries Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said, “The government has already had a series of discussions on these issues with the bank authorities concerned. I pointedly told them: You’ve deposits from the people of Assam; but you’re providing only 35% credit to the consumers here. On the other hand, your banks are releasing 100% credit to the customers in Delhi and Mumbai.”
Referring to the ‘Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment Scheme’ (SVAYES), the legislators pointed out that more than 3000 unemployed youths of the State were selected as beneficiaries; and their names forwarded to the banks for sanctioning of loans. But, most of the banks have been simply harassing the shortlisted youths. BJP MLA Padma Hazarika posed, “Though the Industries department approves beneficiaries after checking all points, why are the banks putting up hurdles in sanctioning loans to them?” He demanded that “the government must initiate tough action against such banks and compel them to expedite the loan-sanctioning process.”
Industries Minister Patowary in his reply said, “As many beneficiaries of government schemes during the tenure of the previous government have turned out to be defaulters, the banks are shying of extending fresh loans against government schemes.”
He further pointed out, “Many of the present short-listed beneficiaries have not deposited the mandatory 25% share of their loan amount. This is also one of the reasons why the banks are not clearing some of the files. Nevertheless, it is absolutely clear that the banks’ CD ratio in Assam is very poor.”