BoI plans host of projects for rural India

Panaji, Mar 12 (UNI) Public sector Bank of India (BoI) has embarked on a rainbow of projects to ''revolutionise rural banking''.

Introduction of biometrically-enabled mobile ATMs in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra for the benefit of villagers who cannot key ''passwords'' for drawing money using credit cards, is one of the project.

Such villager-friendly mobile ATMs will be introduced in Wardha district and elsewhere also, BOI chairman-cum-managing director M Balachandran told reporters here today. He said farmers were being provided appropriate ''Kisan Cards'' for this purpose.

As part of its centenary celebrations, the BoI has launched ''Mega Village Development Project'' in 128 villages across 17 states to benefit 65,000 households, involving Rs 500 credit supply.

The three-year project envisages self-sufficiency of these villages with ''physical, electronic and knowledge connectivity'' as envisioned by president A P J Abdul Kalam. These villages will have ''urban amenities'' and villagers will be educated on soil and water conservation for rural development.

The BoI has also introduced ''e-gram seva kiosks'' in 135 villages in Karnataka and Gujarat, providing villagers with internet connectivity and more such kiosks have been planned.

That apart, the bank has opened free ''credit counselling centres'' in Mumbai, Vidarbha and Chennai to protect the public against falling into a ''debt trap''.

Mr Balachandran informed that the bank has joined hands with the postal department to disburse pensions of Rs 5,000 and more to the beneficiaries at their doorstep in Maharashtra. Similar scheme will be introduced in other states also, he said. Special credit cards have been issued to pensioners to avail loan at mere 2 per cent interest, he said.

UNI