The 122nd meeting of State Level Bankers Committee, Punjab was convened by Punjab National Bank, the lead bank for the state of Punjab, at Chandigarh. Shri Sarvjit Singh, IAS, Secretary, Revenue, Govt. of Punjab was the Chief Guest of the meeting Shri Rakesh Sethi Executive Director, Punjab National Bank, presided over the meeting. Shri Rajat Sachar, Economic Advisor, Department of Financial Services, MOF, GOI, New Delhi, Madam Keshni Anand Arora, IAS, Dy. Director General, UIDAI, Shri Dilip Kumar, IAS, Director, IF&B, Govt. of Punjab, Shri Kamal Prasad, Field General Manager & Convener SLBC Punjab, Shri Amar Nath, General Manager, RBI, Chandigarh, Chandigarh, Shri DD Mishra, General Manager, NABARD, Shri Vinay Kumar, Field General, Chandigarh, Shri I S Phogat, General Manager, PNB, HO, New Delhi, Senior Officers of the State Government and Controlling Heads of the Banks operating in the state of Punjab were among those who attended the meeting.
While delivering her Key note address Shri Rakesh Sethi, Executive Director, Punjab National Bank & Chairperson SLBC meeting, congratulated the banks and State Government Departments for making it possible to convene SLBC meetings with in the prescribed period of 45 days from the close of quarter for the 7th time in a row. He called upon the banks to be ready for initiating the process of covering of villages under FIP with population less than 2000 and desired that Convener SLBC should notionally allocate such villages amongst the banks on the basis of Service Area Approach taking Panchayat as a unit.
Reserve Bank of India has mandated the State Level Bankers’ Committees (SLBCs) to prepare a roadmap covering all unbanked villages of population less than 2000 and notionally allot these villages to banks for providing banking services, in a time-bound manner. RBI has desired that a Sub-Committee of DCC in each district be constituted at District Level who will identify and allot such unbanked villages among Scheduled Commercial Banks (including Regional Rural Banks) operating in the district. In the State of Punjab 9759 unbanked villages having population below 2000 has been identified and allocated among the banks.
While emphasizing for setting up of Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) in the state of Punjab, Shri Sethi said that SGSY is a major self-employment programme implemented by Ministry of Rural Development and Banks aiming to establish a large number of micro enterprises in rural areas. The rural poor have potential & determination to come out of poverty but they require capacity building and skill up-gradation to ensure their sustainability. Looking into these aspects, it has been decided to establish RSETIs in all districts. He apprised the House with happiness that RSETIs have been established in 16 districts and that the land has been allotted in 17 districts and in remaining 3 districts, allotment of land is under consideration. Shri Sethi asked the Department of Rural Development, Government of Punjab to expedite the process of allocation of land in remaining districts of the State for construction of premises of RSETI by the concerned Lead Bank.
While reviewing the performance of banks under various key parameters in the State of PUNJAB for the period from Oct. 2011 to Sept, 2012, Shri Rakesh Sethi informed that banking system in the State has achieved all the National Goals except lending under DRI. Commercial Banks and RRBs have opened 363 new Branches since Oct. 2011, thus raising the total number of branches to 4264 as at 30.09.2012 from 3911 branches as at 30.09..2011. No Block of PUNJAB is unbanked. The Banks in Punjab have installed 443ATMs during the financial year up to Sept 2012 taking their tally to 3681 as at 30.09.2012.
The total deposits in Punjab have increased by ` 23087crore from ` 162890 crore to ` 185977 crore thereby showing an increase of 14.17% during the review period. Total Advances during the period from Sept. 2011 to Sept. 2012 have increased by ` 26289 crore i.e. from ` 121955 crore to ` 148244 crore registering a growth of 21.95 % during review period.
He informed the house that the Banks in the State have achieved the National Goals in respect of Priority Sector, Agriculture Credit (Direct as well indirect) and lending to the Weaker Sector for the period ended Sept. 2012.
Priority Sector Advances have increased from ` 61267 crore as at Sept. 2011 to ` 73658 crore as at Sept. 2012 showing a growth of 20.22%. Agriculture advances have increased from ` 31620 crore as at Sept. 2011 to ` 36790 crore as at Sept 2012 recording a growth of 16.35%. Advances to Micro & Small Enterprises have increased from Rs.26754 crore as at Sept. 2011 to ` 29556 crore as at Sept. 2012 showing a growth of 10.47%. Shri Sethi informed that as per the recommendations of Prime Minister’s Task Force on Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) under Chairmanship of TKA Nair, the banks are required to achieve year on year 20% growth in credit to Micro & Small Enterprises & 10% Annual growth in number of Micro Enterprises accounts. Besides, banks are also required to ensure that 60% of MSE advances go to Micro Enterprises by March 2013. Shri Rakesh Sethi urged upon bankers to monitor the progress in providing credit to this vital sector so that the stipulated targets are achieved for the state as a whole.
Shri Rakesh Sethi informed that Weaker Sector Advances in the state have increased from ` 15892 crore as at Sept. 2011 to ` 22083 crore as at Sept. 2012 thereby showing a growth of 38.95%. Overall advances to Minority Communities have registered an increase of ` 37.02 Crore from ` 394.25Crore as at Sept. 2011 to ` 431.27 Crore as at Sept. 2012 witnessing a growth of 9.38%. Advances to women beneficiaries witnessed an increase of ` 2706 Crore from ` 7147Crore as at Sept. 2011 to Rs.9853 Crore as at Sept 2012, thus showing growth of 37%.
Shri Rakesh Sethi said that Micro financing has assumed greater importance and the role of banks have become even more demanding. There is need to have close rapport with NGOs and other agencies including Social Welfare Agencies to help formation and linkage of SHGs. 27570 SHGs have been Saving Linked and 18422 Credit-linked up to Sept. 2012 in the State.
Earlier, while welcoming the participants, Mr.Kamal Prasad, Field General Manager, Punjab informed the House that the economic growth of the State is very fast. Mr. Prasad said that this year’s good growth of agricultural yield will make the state economy more robust. He assured the State Government of pro-active support from the banking system to accelerate the economy of the State on a faster pace.
