Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday reviewed the progress towards financial inclusion by banks in J&K with MK Jain, Deputy Governor RBI, Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, and other officials.

The Lt Governor shared the vision of the UT Government for extending the banking and financial services to the doorsteps of the people of J&K.

Efforts are being made to enable far-flung areas of rural interiors to become fully connected with the financial sector, said the Lt Governor.

To broaden the social base of development, we are enhancing people’s access to financial products, promotion of ‘One District One Product’, institutional credit to women, youth, SMEs, handicrafts, horticulture, and various other priority sectors for effective contribution to growth processes of the UT, the Lt Governor added.

J&K has become one of the preferred destinations for Industrial investment, Tourism, the Film industry, and the real estate sector. The government is committed to ensure adequate and timely availability of credit to industrial and different productive sectors of the economy to finance growth, said the Lt Governor.

In the last two years, various reforms have been executed to provide opportunities to scheduled commercial banks to expand operations in J&K, observed the Lt Governor.

We will also work together to make our credit lending system more sensitive to the needs of women & youth entrepreneurs, farmers, and artisans, the Lt Governor said.

There is a need for additional banking outlets in rural areas to bring excluded households into the fold of institutional credit and financial services in a structured and sustainable manner, added the Lt Governor.

The enabling ecosystem will also bridge the gap between government schemes and people living in geographically difficult terrain, he further added.

The Lt Governor asked the concerned officers to explore all possibilities for extending financial handholding to the eligible beneficiaries through various government schemes and interventions.

Sh. MK Jain, Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India highlighted the importance of increasing the presence of banks for greater financial inclusion.

He informed that the implementation of Government Sponsored Schemes is monitored through the UT level Bankers’ Committee at periodic intervals.

Discussions were also held regarding the creation of banking infrastructure, streamlining the working of District cooperatives and other banking cooperative societies, effective utilization of funds under NABARD schemes, concerns of the Industries & Commerce sector, availability of banking services, Micro Finance Institutions and NBFCs, and other important issues.