Punjab govt mulls ''women branches'' of co-operative banks

Jalandhar, Nov 22 (UNI) Punjab Government is contemplating launching of ''women's banking branch'' in the co-operative sector, Co-operatives Minister Amarjit Singh Samra said here today.

Mr Samra said that with an intention to ensure women's effective participation in the co-operative movement, the state government wanted to open ''special women branches of co-operative banks'' in urban and rural areas of the state.

He said that in such branches board of directors, staff and even the depositor account holders and borrowers would be women.

The minister said that the country could not achieve desired level of development through cooperatives without encouraging women to participate actively into the co-operative movement.

The government had already encouraged women's participation in the co-operative movement through various types of co-operative bodies.

Presently, 2,236 women co-operative bodies are functioning in the state, Mr Samra added.

UNI SS DP PKS GC1942