Bhopal: Ahead of the state-wide farmers’ agitation beginning June 1, the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has asked the banks to maintain sufficient cash in the banks. The instructions were given by the chief minister during a state-level meeting of bankers’ committee here on Wednesday.
During the farmers’ agitation in June 2017, one of the major issues of the farmers’ resentment was unavailability of cash in the banks. Concerned government want to ensure that this time no such issue is raised and availability cash is maintained in the banks.
The CM asked the bankers to maintain transparency in the disbursement of loans under self-employment schemes. Chouhan said that adequate arrangement should be made to ensure payment to the beneficiaries of social security pension scheme, wages to labourers engaged under MNREGA.
He said that efforts should be made to increase the number of bank branches in rural areas and increase the Loan-to-Deposit ratio in backward districts of the state. Arrangement of business representatives and mobile banking should be extended in the areas, he added.
Besides youth, self-help groups and micro financing companies should also be given special emphasis during loan fair, said CM, adding that there should be system of loan disbursement for the beneficiaries of all schemes of the Centre and state governments. Calling upon bankers to create self-employment opportunities, the chief minister said that they should focus on Krishak Yuva Udyami Yojana and make ensure distribution of loans to maximum people.
He congratulated the bankers for maintaining cash flow of Rs 9,000 crores, increasing credit limit by 13 per cent in year 2017-18 and by 14 per cent in 2918-19 and also for the growth in Loan-to-Deposit ratio by 3.06 per cent against the target. He said that bankers should pay special attention in areas where Loan-to-Deposit ratio is less than 40 per cent.
Executive Director of Central Bank of India B S Shekhawat said that GDP growth rate of Madhya Pradesh was 19.7 per cent last year, which is more than the country’s average growth. In this area, the state at 8th position in the country, he added. He said that during the previous financial year, the credit distribution has registered an increase of 13.89 per cent and deposits have increased by 8.45 per cent.
