95 per cent households in NE do not have access to banking

Itanagar, Feb 12 (PTI) Altogether 95 per centhouseholds in North East do not have access to bankingservices against the national average of 43 per cent, RBIDeputy Governor Shyamala Gopinath said here today.

"Despite efforts by RBI during the last 75 years,there are as many as 145 million households in the country nothaving access to banking", she said while speaking at theRBI''s Financial Outreach camp at Karsingsa near here.

She said RBI has been launching such programmes in allthe states of the region to extend banking services to everyunbanked village.

"Our institution has taken a conscious decision tobring the households into the banking fold which will not onlyresult in making available the affordable banking services toeveryone but will inculcate savings and investment habitsamong the people", she said.

"The challenge is enormous, but necessary, becausefinancial inclusion is what will give people an opportunity tobuild better lives for themselves and their children", sheadded.

Karsingsa, a village within the vicinity of thestate''s capital, having a population of over 2000 does nothave banking facilities. The camp has served as a boon for thedenizens as 203 No Frill Account (Zero Balance Account) withzero deposits were opened with SBI branches at Nirjuli andNaharlagun.