LEAD BANKERS TO DISCUSS STRATIGIES TO INCREASE LENDING TO WEAKER
SECTIONS
The top executives
of the leading banks/ financial institutions are to discuss policy
requirements along with structural changes at micro and macro
levels to improve lending to weaker sections at a workshop here
tomorrow. The workshop has been organised by the National Commission
for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The workshop assumes
importance as the participants would discuss as to why inspite
of guideline by the Reserve bank of India for 10% credit lending
to weaker sections of society including SCs and STs, the actual
lending is only four to five percent. In financial terms, the
amount made available for lending is very small.
The Commission is
concerned at slow pace of socio-economic development of the Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes who as per 2001 census constitute
about 0ne-fourth of the country’s population. Majority of them
are victims of socio-economic deprivation and live below poverty
line. Efforts to eradicate poverty have to focus on these communities
and other weaker sections with adequately required flow of funds
for their socio-economic empowerment. This is essential so that
they get integrated and assume their rightful place in society.
The Workshop is first
initiative by the Fourth National Commission for Scheduled Castes
and Scheduled Tribes appointed in March this year to monitor and
accelerate the socio-economic development of SCs & STs. The
Workshop is being attended by the Deputy Governor of RBI, the
CMDs of the State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Allahabad
Bank, Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Dena Bank, NABARD, NSFDC,
State Financial Corporations and the union Finance Ministry.
