The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developed has asked bankers to accord top priority to lending for the Central government schemes as they ensure self-reliance for the downtrodden. According to the bank, the recovery rate is almost 98 per cent in many schemes since beneficiaries are keen on repayment to get new loans.
The bank on Thursday organised a district-level workshop on the government schemes in various sectors. Speaking on the occasion, NABARD District Development Manager M.D. Vasudevan said the Central government was focusing on various sectors such as dairy development, cold storage units, solar water pumping programme, agro-processing units, minor irrigation, fisheries and others.
He said the concept of joint liability groups was being implemented successfully in Srikakulam district with the active role of banks such as Andhra Pradesh Gramin Vikas Bank which provided loans for many groups to buy cows under the dairy development programme.
Storage points
Mr. Vasudevan said there were ample opportunities for setting up storage points in the rural areas as Food Corporation of India and other wings were keen on storing rice and essential commodities. He said that there was a demand for rural godowns as FCO was facing troubles with the lack of sufficient number of storage points. He asked banks to concentrate on fisheries as the government identified 10,000 ponds for the development of fisheries. He expressed happiness over the successful running of organic farming and processing units which were supplying biscuits to many hostels and colleges of the district.
State Bank of Hyderabad Regional Manager D. Subba Rao, SBI Chief Manager V.Appala Raju, Assistant Lead Bank Manager M. Satyanarayana, Andhra Bank Rural Development Officer P. Rajesh and others interacted with NABARD representatives and enquired about the latest schemes and subsidy component.
They also expressed concern over poor recovery and non-performing assets in many places although the units were making profits. They sought clarification over various schemes and time for the release of subsidy amount and adjustment of interests. Virat Modi Solar System representative D.S. Gupta displayed the latest solar power gadgets and equipment to highlight the Union government’s subsidy for the scheme.
Senior executives of Jain Irrigation made a presentation on solar pumpsets.
