By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: NABARD has projected an overall credit potential of Odisha at Rs.90,395.69 crore for 2020-21.NABARD conducted the State Credit Seminar for 2020-21 today, in which the State Focus Paper for the State was released, projecting an overall credit potential Odisha under Priority Sector at Rs.90,395.69 crore for the year 2020-21.
The seminar was inaugurated by Niranjan Pujari, Finance and Excise Minister, Government of Odisha and attended by principal secretary, Finance, Regional Director, RBI; Chief General Manager, SBI; controlling Heads of Banks, DDMs of NABARD and other dignitaries from banking and State Govt. depts.
Niranjan Pujari on this occasion, congratulated NABARD for publishing a well-researched document. He emphasized the need for increasing the Agriculture term loan finance in other allied sector activities such as Animal Husbandry, Poultry, Fisheries etc., leading to asset formation and diversification of the income basket of farmers.
He also advised all the banks to increase their banking outreach in unbanked areas of the State in order to help the State Govt. in effective implementation of various developmental programmes and also increase the scope of digital banking and FI across the State. He also highlighted coordinated support from all the stakeholders to make Odisha a leading state in the Indian economy.
Ashok K.K.Meena, Principal Secretary, Finance,complimented NABARD for highlighting the importance of Agri and allied sector potential in overall credit potential of the state, as 2/3 rd of the state population is dependent on Agriculture and allied activities. He also advised all the commercial banks to increase Agri Term loan financing under various state govt programmes and especially under MMKUY.
He urged upon the bankers to focus on FPO and JLG financing under Agri and allied sector and ensured full support of State Govt in working with the banking sector in the state to improve the rural credit scenario.He complimented NABARD for bringing out a well-written document.
M.K.Mall, Regional Director, RBI, A Chandrasekhar, CGM NABARD, Praveena Kala, CGM, SBI and Sanjay Kumar, GM SLBC and convener SLBC also spoke on the occasion.
