Haryana banks disburse loans worth Rs 7351 Cr

Chandigarh, May 26: Union Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal today expressed satisfaction over the achievements of banks in Haryana which disbursed total loans of Rs 7351 crore in the state during 2006-07.

Speaking at a State Level Bankers' Committee convened by the Punjab National Bank, Mr Bansal said the banks and government agencies implemented various developmental schemes in Haryana well in time.

He also noted that Cash Deposit Ratio in Haryana was much ahead of the National Goal. He appreciated the banks in achieving 100 per cent Financial Inclusion targets in Yamunanagar and Bhiwani districts and desired that more districts be identified to achieve the target of 16 districts by September, 2007.

He further desired that the whole state of Haryana be financially included by the end of March 2008.

The Minister appreciated the initiatives taken by Punjab National Bank in opening of Financial Education Centre in Yamunanagar.

PNB CMD S C Gupta said that banks in Haryana had also earned the honour of financing more than 10 Agri-clinics per district taking the tally to 226 against a target of 200 Agri-clinics. Mr Gupta expressed the hope that such large number of Agri-clinics would further enhance the farm production in the state.

On the performance of the banks in the state during 2006-07, he said advances increased by Rs 7351 crore from Rs 29903 crore to Rs 37254 crore recording a growth of 24.6 per cent.

Priority Sector advances in the state increased by Rs 3700 crore from Rs 18650 crore to Rs 22350 crore during this period, he said.

Credit to Agriculture Sector increased from Rs 8305 crore as to Rs 11,115 crore, showing an increase of Rs 2810 crore, he added.

UNI