Gujarat bankers concerned at poor credit to SC/ST

Ahmedabad, June 23: Gujarat State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) today expressed concern at the advances to Scheduled Castes (SC), Sceduled Tribes (ST), Backward Classes (BC), besides women and small farmers, being far below the target.

Dena Bank CMD P L Gairola, who is also the convener of SLBC, said the state's overall achievement during the last financial year in most sectors was above the target, but for that in lower strata and neglected sections of the society.

The net bank credit to weaker sections in Gujarat has gone up to Rs 3,722-cr in 2005-06 from Rs 3,305-cr the previous fiscal, but it still stood at 5.75 per cent as against the stipulated benchmark of 10 per cent, he said.

Although 61,024 Self Help Groups (SHGs) with a membership of 6.83 lakhs have been formed in the state till March this year, he pointed out, only 17,277 SHGs constituting only 28.31 per cent of total SHGs have been financed. There is an urgent need for analysing the reasons for non-linkage of the remaining 43,000 SHGs.

The number of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) issued in the state has gone up to 18.75 lakhs as on March 31 this year from 16.83 lakhs one year back. The total number of holdings are 37 lakhs.

He appealed to bankers to increase advances to SC/ST by adopting a pro-active approach. There are a number of government sponsored programmes like PMRY and SGSY. He appreciated the role of National Commission for Scheduled Castes to sensitise the field functionaries.

UNI