Additional Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development Shri Charanjit Singh chaired a meeting yesterday with the Chairpersons of Regional Rural Banks and Managing Directors of State Co-operative Banks on SHG Bank Linkage & Financial Inclusion in New Delhi.
Shri Charanjit Singh said that role of the RRBs and Co-operative Banks should be towards changing the rural society by empowering women. He said that the Branch Managers should visit the villages and stay there for one night to assess the ground reality.
Chairman NABARD said that SHG women members could be transformed into Lakhpati Didis by financing of the micro enterprises owned by them. Discussions was focused on financing individual women SHG members by the RRBs and co-operative banks.
Presentation on the progress of SHG Bank Linkages made by the Regional Rural Bank and Co-operative banks across various parameters was discussed. Women from the rural areas have shown that they are creditworthy and they can utilise the bank’s credit for growth and can make regular loan repayment too. NPA of the Regional Rural Banks have been reduced to just 1.43% which is the lowest in the banking industry. About 10 crore Women from rural households have been enrolled under 96 lakhs Self Helf Groups and Rs. 8.03 lakh crores of credit has been availed by these women SHGs from the Banks since inception of the scheme. Good performing banks were awarded at the event.
The meeting was attended by Chairman, NABARD and Chief General Managers from State Bank of India, Sh. K V Shaji, Punjab National Bank, NABARD, Senior officials from Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India, State Rural Livelihoods Missions and Ministry of Rural Development officials and experts.
