Though industries are finding it difficult to operate to full capacities here because of the power problem, loans by banks to these units has seen an upward trend.
At a district-level meeting of the bankers in Coimbatore on Friday, it was pointed out that between April and September this year, total advances by banks grew by three per cent compared to the same period last year.
The growth in loans to micro and small-scale industries grew by six per cent. During the first six months of 2011-12, Rs. 5,790 crore was lent to micro and small-scale industries in the district and it increased to Rs. 6,133 crore for the same period this year.
Agricultural advances increased by 10 per cent, from Rs. 4,168 crore to Rs. 4, 577 crore. Collector M. Karunagaran and District Lead Bank Manager J. Vanangamudi urged the bankers to “adopt a humanitarian approach” while recovering outstanding agricultural loan amount.
With nearly 50 per cent deficient rainfall this year in the district, agricultural income had declined.
The banks had to recover the outstanding loan amount from those who had not repaid the loan. However, they should “have a soft approach”, the Collector said.
Similarly, the banks were asked to give agricultural jewel loans and crop loans only to farmers.
They should also submit details of the loans that they had disbursed under these segments.
Except for co-operative bank, the other banks were not covering crop loans under insurance, Mr. Vanangamudi said.
The banks were also asked to dispose of the applications related to government sponsored schemes in 15 days.
A little more than 100 weaver credit cards were sanctioned in the district and 1,140 applications were pending. The cards should be distributed to eligible applicants at the earliest.
With regard to old age pension disbursement, the Collector asked the revenue officials to avoid disbursement through money orders.
