All the 182 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks (PACBs ) in the district are being provided with adequate infrastructural facilities from security point of view, according to Joint Registrar (Cooperatives) K.V.S. Kumar here on Wednesday.
Following a few recent attempts to rob some of the bank branches situated in rural pockets in the district, the Madurai Rural police had advised the cooperative bank authorities to take stock of the safety aspects and ensure that things were in order.
After a review of the status of the branches, the officials proposed to install alarms, construct strong rooms and deploy security guards, wherever required. Superintendent of Police Asra Garg had instructed all the highway patrol police to be vigilant on movements of persons at odd hours near banks, a police officer said. In Tirumangalam sub-division, there was an attempt on a PACB branch in Kalligudi last month but it was foiled. Similarly, there was another attempt at Achampathu a week ago. However, the valuables were intact, another officer said.
Except for 12 branches, the rest of the PACBs function on their own premises. Steps to strengthen all the branches from security point of view were being carried out on a war-footing, Dr. Kumar told The Hindu . “We are examining the possibility of deploying guards in a phased manner for some of our branches in remote areas such as Pallapatti, Kangeyanatham, among others, in the district,” he added.
The government is keen on issuing jewel loans through PACBs as it would avoid the small borrowers from pledging their valuables with pawn brokers, PACB branch managers said and added that in 2008 they had Rs 79 crore as jewel loan outstanding, while it was Rs 310 crore so far this year.
