Chhattisgarh Government Committed to Expanding Banking Services: Finance Minister
Raipur, January 16
Banks play a crucial role in driving the economy of Chhattisgarh. The state government is committed to expanding banking services under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai and is ready to provide all possible assistance to expand banking facilities in backward and remote areas.
Finance Minister Shri OP Chaudhary made this statement while addressing the state-level Bankers’ Committee meeting.
Finance Minister Shri OP Chaudhary said that the banking system is the backbone of the state’s economy. Without developing banking facilities, we cannot develop the state, so we need to expand banking facilities rapidly.
He said that Chhattisgarh is a leading state in the country in terms of DBT. Banking services have expanded more than before in the state, but there is still scope for further expansion.
He informed that the state’s CD ratio is better than the national level and Chhattisgarh is the third highest CD ratio state in the country. But the CD ratio of some districts is low, and emphasis should be given to increasing it.
Finance Minister Shri Chaudhary directed the bank officials to provide adequate credit to farmers for rabi, horticulture, fisheries, and animal husbandry along with kharif.
He said that a massive campaign is being conducted in the state to construct more than 18 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. If banks provide loans to PM Awas beneficiaries, it will be easier for beneficiaries to build organized and convenient houses. This will also increase employment opportunities and economic activities in the state.
Finance Minister Shri Chaudhary said that the Chhattisgarh government will provide all possible help to start regional and head offices of banks in Naya Raipur.
He said that the government will give priority to land allocation for setting up regional and head offices in Naya Raipur. He told the bank officials that the government will take the initiative to provide deposits of government schemes to the bank branches started in backward and remote areas of Chhattisgarh.
The review meeting was also addressed by Additional Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Pinguwa, Principal Secretary Smt. Niharika Barick Singh, Principal Secretary Shri Sonamani Bora, Deputy Managing Director of SBI Shri Surender Rana, CGM NABARD Shri Gyandendra Mani, Smt. Sheetal S Verma, DIA Chhattisgarh, and many other bank officials. The meeting was attended by Agriculture Production Commissioner Smt. Shahla Nigar, Finance Secretary Mukesh Kumar Bansal, and secretaries, commissioners, and directors of various departments along with bankers.