MARGAO: Through the recent budget, the Centre has increased the corpus fund of micro financing from Rs 200 crore to Rs 400 crore, and hence Self-Help-Groups functioning in Goa will not have any difficulty in getting funds from banking institutions for genuine programmes, informed MP, Mr Shantaram Naik at Margao, on Monday, said a press release.
Mr Naik, who was addressing the bankers and officers of various government departments at the district level review committee meeting of a lead bank held at Margao further said that it is a satisfying development that in order to extend the geographical coverage of banks and improve access to banking services, RBI has decided to issue more banking licences.
In a major step to reduce the bottlenecks in the financial sector, the central government has decided to establish a financial sector legislative reforms commission, which may help the common man as this commission is bound to look into rules governing lending of loans to the weaker sections of the society, Mr Naik said. He also suggested that panchayats should play an effective role in constituting farmers’ clubs.
Although as per RBI guidelines credit-deposit ration has to be 60 per cent, it is still 36 per cent, in South Goa, although the same is growing steadily.
This may be because Goans are not adventurous in starting enterprises and hence are shy of taking loans and also, because a number of entrepreneurs obtain loan from outside Goa, Mr Naik said.
Mr Prasanna Acharya, additional collector, South Goa, who presided over the meeting, said that bank officials should visit villages to motivate farmers to obtain loans. He said that this year’s state budget gives thrust on agriculture.
Assistant manger of RBI, Mr B S Meshram, said that, to suggest improvements in credit-deposit ration in Goa, the RBI has constituted a committee, and that steps will be taken as per the recommendation of the committee. District Development manager NABARD, Mr Uday Kadam, said that Self Help Groups will get better facilities if they are registered.
Mr Arvind Velingkar, lead bank manager of State Bank of India welcomed the members.
