Shimla DC urges all banks to offer improved services

Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap emphasised the need for banks to offer improved services and set realistic targets to minimize the gap between set and achieved goals. He was addressing the District Level Review and Advisory Committee meeting held in Shimla today, where various banking schemes were discussed in detail at the block level.

The district was assigned a target of Rs 8208.93 crore under the Annual Credit Plan for the financial year 2024–25. By the end of March, banks had disbursed Rs 6025.63 crore, achieving 73.40% of the target. Sector-wise, achievement stood at 61.97% in agriculture, 92.58% in MSMEs and 85.10% in other priority areas.

Kashyap instructed officials to ensure that social security schemes reach the maximum number of beneficiaries. Till March 31, a total of 1,99,963 accounts were opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. By June 2024, 3.48 lakh people enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, 1.49 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, and 73,755 under the Atal Pension Yojana.

The DC said that Rs 13.12 crore had been disbursed to 652 self-help groups to support rural women’s livelihoods. Additionally, Rs 17.45 crore was sanctioned under 189 cases through the Pradhan Mantri Swarojgar Srijan Karyakram.

A total of 736 financial literacy camps were conducted across the district, and 1078 individuals received skill training in areas such as beekeeping, tailoring, jute product making, and food processing. Lead District Manager Kulwant Rai also reviewed the follow-up actions from the previous meeting.

Himachal Tribune