- State Level Bankers Committee meeting concludes
The 100th quarterly meeting of the State Level Bankers’ Committee was held today at the Mahanadi Bhawan, Mantralaya, under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Shri Vikassheel. Important issues related to the banking sector were discussed in detail during the meeting. Bankers were directed to expedite processing of bank cases under the government’s public welfare schemes. The meeting also reviewed in detail the pending loan cases at the state-level lead bank and other banks. The status of the banking network in various districts of the state was also discussed in detail. The Chief Secretary stated that it should be ensured that people in all areas of the state have access to banking services. It was informed that the average achievement level of the credit-deposit ratio in the state has now reached the national level, reflecting the state’s strong banking progress. Bankers were also asked to organize special programs to create awareness among the public about digital transactions.
Chief Secretary Vikasshiil, while discussing the Udgam portal, said that people’s money has been deposited in various bank accounts for many years. Such savings accounts, which have not been claimed by themselves or their families, should be identified and people should be helped and their deposits returned. To this end, information about the Udgam portal should be disseminated to the public. The Udgam portal informs bank account holders about their money, and they can then access the money by meeting with bankers and completing the necessary formalities to retrieve the money that has been lying in banks for many years.
Expressing concern over the increasing cases of digital arrests, cyber fraud and online cheating in the meeting, the Chief Secretary said that special awareness campaigns should be run in urban areas as well as in rural and remote areas, so that the general public remains cautious and alert against digital crimes. While reviewing the linking of bank accounts with Aadhaar, he said that all bank accounts should be linked with Aadhaar so that the beneficiaries can get the benefits of government schemes in a transparent and timely manner.
The Chief Secretary, while directing the banks to improve the loan disbursement process, said that loans should be made available to eligible beneficiaries through a simple and quick process, which will promote self-employment and economic activities. The Chief Secretary especially stressed on increasing the reach of banking facilities in the rural and remote areas of the state, including the Bastar region, and making the benefits of public welfare government schemes reach the common people.
The meeting was informed that 11,680 camps have been organized in the state so far under the Financial Inclusion Saturation Campaign. Through these camps, information about banking facilities and schemes was provided to villagers, women self-help groups, and vulnerable sections. A detailed review was also conducted on the progress of other schemes, including the Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), Kisan Credit Card, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar (Free Electricity Scheme), and PM Svanidhi Yojana. Bankers were directed to ensure that bank cases benefit under other public welfare schemes, including the Chief Minister’s Higher Education Loan Grant Scheme. Bank loan cases were reviewed in detail during the meeting. The State Lead Bank Officer provided detailed information about banking cases in SLBCs in various regions of the state. Representatives of various banks including Reserve Bank of India, State Bank of India, NABARD, state government officials, bankers and other members of the state level bankers committee were present in the meeting.