Shimla DC urges banks to enhance access to govt schemes for poor
Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap called on banks to ensure maximum outreach of government schemes to the underprivileged. Chairing the quarterly District-Level Consultative Committee meeting at Bachat Bhawan, the DC emphasised raising awareness about financial benefits available through government initiatives.
He highlighted the importance of encouraging self-reliance and entrepreneurship among beneficiaries and suggested organising financial literacy camps at convenient times for local participation. Kashyap stressed improved communication within the banking system to foster trust and guide people toward the right schemes.
Banks presented their performance reports, revealing achievements across various sectors. In agriculture, they achieved 26.57% of their target, while the MSME sector saw a 53.28% success rate. Priority sector targets stood at 29.84%, non-priority at 172.85%, and overall targets at 44.60%. Under PM Vishwakarma Yojana, 29 beneficiaries received assistance, while 8,921 farmer credit cards were distributed. The PM Street Vendor Atmanirbhar Nidhi supported 60 beneficiaries with Rs 16.2 lakh.
However, the credit-deposit ratio declined from 43.27% to 41.42%. Self-help groups received Rs 5.57 crore across 214 cases. Under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, 576 Shishu loans, 3,109 Kishore loans, and 1,178 Tarun loans were approved. In rural areas, 712 financial literacy camps were conducted during the quarter. The DC urged banks to strengthen social security initiatives and work collaboratively to uplift the community.
