SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh has set a target of opening 800 new bank branches in rural and remote areas of the state by 2016 as per a comprehensive financial inclusion plan. The hill state already has 1,666 bank branches, besides 861 ATMs. Addressing the 128th state level bankers committee meeting, convened by Uco Bank in Shimla on Monday, state chief secretary Sudripta Roy said that a record number of 31 new branches were opened during the last quarter till March 2013. Of these, 25 were located in rural areas. Roy said that under the annual credit plan 2012-13, the banks had provided fresh loans amounting to Rs 8,824 crore during the last fiscal ended March 2013. They plan to lend Rs 11,548 crore in the current financial year, by increasing the financial outlay to about 24%. The rural development department had finalised selection of five blocks, namely Nurpur, Sadar Mandi, Kandaghat, Basantpur and Haroli, for implementation of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in the state on a pilot basis. Roy said that due to excessive rains last month, the state suffered heavy losses, especially in the tribal district of Kinnaur and other parts. The state government had sought financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore from the Union government for providing relief and rehabilitation and to speed up re-building of infrastructure.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 12:38:52 +0000
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