1 lakh farmers to get Pashu Kisan Credit Card in Haryana

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 14

To boost credit dispensation for rearing dairy animals in Haryana, banks have been asked to sanction 1 lakh applications for Pashu Kisan Credit Card (KCC) by the end of month. The banks have already sanctioned more than 26,000 cards. They have received over 2 lakh applications for the same.

In order to achieve the target within the stipulated time, the banks have been asked to speed up the process and issue the card to the borrower within 14 days.

During the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) meeting, which was held today, TVSN Prasad, Additional Chief Secretary, Haryana, stressed on achieving the target to sanction 1 lakh applications by the month-end.

A senior banker said the bankers had prepared a schedule of block-wise camps for various blocks and 132 camps had been organised in July for the farmers. The banks received around 1.56 lakh applications in July only, which were sent to different bank branches for sanctioning purpose, he said.

Further, the controlling heads of all banks were asked to pay special attention towards the scheme and sensitise field functionaries in this regard, he added.

According to the bankers, each bank branch will have to give in-principle approval to every application received within 7 days after meeting compliance norms from the Department of Animal Husbandry. The final sanction for issuing the KCC should be done within another 7 days.

For the current fiscal, the banks aim to cover 8 lakh dairy farmers under the scheme. The bank-wise target has already been allocated to each bank by the SLBC.

It is estimated that there are around 63.09 lakh dairy animals (cows and buffaloes) in the state which are owned by about 16 lakh farmers.

In December last year, the state government had launched Pashu KCC for farmers so that they can meet short-term credit requirements for the rearing of animals.

Banks asked to achieve target by month-end

According to bankers, each bank branch will have to give in-principle approval to every application received within 7 days after meeting compliance norms from the Department of Animal Husbandry. The final sanction for issuing the KCC should be done within another 7 days