HDFC Bank launches 'Project Jharkhand'

Mumbai, Sep 30 (UNI) HDFC Bank, India's leading private sector bank, has announced the launch of ''Project Jharkhand'', a financial inclusion program under the aegis of the Reserve Bank of India.

As part of the program, the Bank launched its world class services at a Common Service Center (CSC) in Kanke comprising over 1.5 lakh households, spread across 100 villages in 30 Panchayats. The Bank also adopted Chakala village near Ranchi as part of the program.

Under the programme HDFC Bank will cover 45 lakh households in the state through both the CSC and village adoption models, subject to regulatory provision.

In a statement issued here today, G Subramanian, Country Head - Internal Controls and Compliance Risk, HDFC Bank said, ''HDFC Bank will use the CSC infrastructure backbone to bring world class banking services to the doors of the unbanked and underbanked areas and offer financial services such as credit, savings, insurance and remittances in a sustainable manner.'' He said, ''With a majority of India's population residing in rural area, it is imperative that they also benefit and are a part of the country's progress and development. HDFC Bank believes that initiatives such as the financial inclusion have the potential to change the face of rural India, which in turn will also improve the socio-economic factors at the rural level and contribute towards overall development of the country.'' UNI AR RN NP1923