While the Government has asked them to provide basic banking services to all unbanked villages with a population of over 2,000 by March 2012, the banks are gearing up to cover even villages with population of between 1,000 and 2,000.
This was indicated by top public sector bankers at a meeting held to review the progress made by banks in achieving the financial inclusion action plan for 2010-2012 at the Indian Banks' Association on Thursday.
Since banks are investing in creating financial inclusion infrastructure involving technology and manpower, including banking correspondents, it was felt that this infrastructure should be leveraged to also cover villages with a population of between 1,000 and 2,000 if they happen to be close to villages with population of over 2,000, said Mr K. Unnikrishnan, Deputy Chief Executive, Indian Banks' Association.
Over 73,000 unbanked villages in the country have been allotted to different commercial banks for coverage through the banks' financial inclusion plans.
Rural hinterland
Banks propose to reach services to these villages by either opening branches or through Business Correspondents (BCs) and technologies that facilitate branchless banking at doorstep in the rural hinterland.
At the meeting, action taken by the banks on matters relating to financial inclusion, including the strategy adopted for enrolling and training the BCs, training the rural branch managers, technology plans, publicity awareness generation plans (so that people are aware about the various products and services being offered) and suitable monitoring mechanism for these efforts were discussed.
Meeting held
The meeting was chaired by Mr Rakesh Singh, Additional Secretary, Department of Financial Services, and attended by the chiefs and senior executives of State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Central Bank of India, Dena Bank, IDBI Bank and Union Bank of India.
The financial inclusion plans will be dove-tailed with the Unique Identification project and the bank accounts will also be used to deliver various government social benefit schemes such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, old-age pensions, and other direct subsidy schemes.
+1.jpg)
0 comments
Post a Comment