Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday appealed to the nationalised banks to tap the latest technology for providing banking services in rural villages without physical presence.
“I am discussing with State administrators, particularly Chief Ministers, Finance Ministers and also chief executive officers of nationalised banks and asking them to tap available latest technologies to provide banking services in rural villages without establishing a physical branch,” he said.
Of the 87,000 bank branches in the country, only 36 to 37 per cent are in the villages.
The other areas, particularly Rural parts of country are without banking connectivity, he said addressing a function organised jointly by the territorial administration and Indian Bank to distribute financial assistance to self-help group members here.
“Our problem is how to reach to the large section of the society in rural areas so that they can get regular banking credit.”
The government is working towards realising the plan to provide banking facility in all habitations having more than 2000 persons by the year 2012.
Hailing the contribution of SHGs in transforming the society, he said the members of SHGs can act as the business correspondence of the banks and organise financial inclusion, particularly for women.
Providing banking connection in all villages has become all the more important for the government as several welfare and development schemes are provided to the beneficiaries through banks, Mr. Mukherjee said.
