Bankers have been asked to make use of the data available on financial inclusion while designing new development schemes.
This suggestion was made at a meeting to review the performance of banks in Dakshina Kannada district, organised by the Lead Bank (Syndicate Bank) in Mangalore on Monday.
Participating in the meeting, Prasad Rao, Assistant General Manager of Nabard, suggested that the banks provide details such as the number of basic savings bank accounts opened under the financial inclusion plan, the amount in such accounts, and the transactions carried out in such accounts. Such details would help in devising new schemes for the welfare of people.
IT Sethuraman, Regional Manager of Syndicate Bank, expressed concern over the low CD (credit-deposit) ratio in the district. The CD ratio of Dakshina Kannada stood at 53.64 per cent during 2013-14 as against 56.48 per cent in 2012-13.
Amarnath Hegde, Lead District Chief Manager, said that big advances under the consortium arrangement were not reflected in the credit disbursal details of the district. This was one of the reasons for the low CD ratio.
A team from the Reserve Bank of India had visited some branches in the district recently to study the reasons for the low CD ratio in the district, he said.
Prasad Rao suggested that the banks focus on extending financial assistance to MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) in the district. This would help create more job opportunities in the region.
He said bankers could finance drying yards for arecanut in the district. Thrust should be given to encourage investments in animal husbandry also. All these measures would help boost credit disbursement in the region.
Business
Amarnath Hegde informed the meeting that 553 branches of various banks in the district crossed a business of ₹43,032.17 crore during 2013-14 as against a business of ₹37,132.05 crore in 2012-13. Deposits stood at ₹28,008.40 crore and advances at ₹15,023.77 crore during 2013-14.
A Vijaya Kumar, RBI Manager, was present on the occasion.