Banks must extend volume of micro credit in Bihar:CM

Patna, May 13 (UNI) Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today announced to transform Bihar into a 'developed state by 2015' and sought 'whole-hearted cooperation' from all banks to achieve the goal.

Inaugurating the first state level Bankers' Conference in this fiscal(2008-09), Mr Kumar urged all public,private and regional rural banks to increase their volume of micro-credit facilities to all sections, including those belonging to the Below Poverty Lines(BPL) and in areas of agriculture,education and health.

Stating that a stagerring 56 per cent or 1.21 crore of the state's total about 2.22 crore families belonged to BPL, he criticised the role of most bank branches in Bihar towards extending credit facilities to them.

''As the chief minister I started receiving large number of specific complaints of unconcerned attitude of bank officials from frustrated customers,'' Mr Kumar said and urged the banks to be more sympathetic towards mitigating the hopes and aspirations of the public.

Reiterating the need for extending more agricultural and educational loans to the needy without considering their economic background,the chief minister suggested to the bankers to chalk out specific agricultural credit policies and a road map for Bihar to ensure successful implementation of the inclusive growth of its economy.

Among others deputy Chief Minister cum Finance Minister Sushil Modi, Chief General Manager SBI Krishna Kumar, Executive Director, RBI K K Bhora, Executive Director NABARD S K Ghosh, Executive Director UCO Bank L. Mishra and Regional Manager Punjab National Bank R Mishra spoke on the occasion.

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