Chandigarh January 23: Haryana Chief Minister Mr Manohar Lal has exhorted the bankers to work in close coordination with the State Government and play a vital role in achieving the goal of “Public Welfare” set by the State Government through effective implementation of various projects and schemes at the grass root level. Initially, the State Government has set a target for the uplift of those families whose annual family income is upto Rs 1.80 lakh, he added.
Mr Manohar Lal was speaking the State Credit Seminar cum Pre-budget consultation with banking sector here today. Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Minister Mr Jai Prakash Dalal was also present in the meeting.
On this occasion, Mr Manohar Lal released the “State Focus Paper 2020-21” prepared by NABARD, Haryana and Annual Credit Plan 2020-21. The “State Focus Paper 2020-21” provides credit potential estimates of Rs 1,46,733 crore under priority sector in Haryana for the Financial Year 2020-21. The theme of seminar was “Hi-tech Agriculture Practices”.
While underlining the significance of banking sector, the Chief Minister said that role of banks especially the leads banks in the effective implementation of various schemes of state and centre is paramount. He said that Banks should not work only with an idea of profit making but also serve the society. He said that the State Government has decided to start a scheme namely Parivar Pehchan Patra under which the families in the State would categorized on the basis of their income and not assets. On the basis of these categories, benefit of various schemes and programmes would be provided to them at their door steps. He said that Mukhyamantri Parivar Samman Nidhi Yojana has been started under which annual financial assistance of Rs 6000 would be provided to those families whose annual income is upto Rs 1.80 lakh. The distribution of this financial assistance would be done through the banks, he added.
The Chief Minister exhorted the bankers to provide maximum loan for the job oriented programs, loan under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and education loan. He asked the bankers to device a mechanism to provide collateral free education loan to the students so that every student who applies could get the loan without any hassle. He also asked the banks to ensure that each village panchayat has a bank branch and for this they need to work in a mission mode. At present, there are 5,684 bank branches in the State.
He said that the State Government has envisaged several big infrastructural projects which would not only provide source of livelihood to the people but also boost the State Economy. He urged NABARD and other banks to come up with some new financial plans for the effective implementation of these projects. He said that the State Government has decided that the revenue roads connecting villages of 2-3-4 Karam would be made pucca and several departments are working together for this work. He asked NABARD to prepare a project for funding the same. Similarly, it has also been decided to rejuvenate 14,000 village ponds in the State. The Haryana Pond and Waste Water Management Authority has also been constituted for this purpose. The Government would soon prepare a budget plan for executing this work and the banks should provide adequate funding for it.
On this occasion, he also asked the bankers and representatives of insurance company give their suggestions in writing for the upcoming State Budget for the Financial Year 2020-21.
Earlier, the Chief Minister also presented appreciation letters to the best performing banks in the field of priority sector lending in the State under various schemes including National Rural Livelihood Mission, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana , Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) .
Speaking on this occasion, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Mr Jai Prakash Dalal emphasized the need for the adoption of high-tech agriculture practices with a view to increase the production and productivity of agriculture. He said that subsidy upto 85 percent is being provided to farmers for small irrigation schemes and bankers could help farmers in this. Similarly, a plan is being prepared for farmers to build small warehouses in their fields for the storage of foodgrains.
Chief Secretary Mrs Keshni Anand Arora asked the bankers to enhance loan advances under the DRI loans scheme implemented for the welfare of weaker section of the society. She also asked them to achieve their loaning targets under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and said that the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) should be linked with revenue record of the State. She also emphasized the need to evolve a centralized system for the banks to deal with the complaints of cyber crime.
Additional Chief Secretary Finance Mr T.V.S.N Prasad asked the banks to work closely with the State Government to make Haryana a 200 million dollar economy. Laying stress on increasing the contribution of agriculture sector in the Indian Economy, he said that focus should be given on crop diversification and micro irrigation. While exhorting the bankers to play active role in the implementation of various schemes and programmes, he said that the State Government has a made a provision of Rs 1500 crore under the Mukhyamantri Parivar Samman Nidhi Yojana for the current financial year.
Among those present on this occasion included Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr V. Umashankar, Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Mr Sanjeev Kaushal, Additional Chief Secretary Irrigation and Water Resource Department Mr Devender Singh , Chief General Manager NABARD Mr Rajeev Mahajan and other senior officers of the State Government and representatives of Banks .