Himachal Chief secretary Sudripta Roy on Monday said that a comprehensive Financial Inclusion Plan of the State had proposed to open about 800 new bank branches in the State by 2016 in rural belts and remote corners of the State.
Speaking during the 128th State level Bankers Committee Meeting convened by UCO Bank here, he said that a record number of 31 new branches were opened during the last quarter till March, 2013 out of which 25 were located in rural areas.
Roy said that due to excessive rains during the last month State suffered heavy losses especially in tribal district of Kinnaur and as well as in other parts of the State. He said that the State Government had sought financial assistance of Rs1,000 crore from central government for providing relief, rehabilitation and speeding re-building of infrastructure.
Besides, the State Government was assessing the extent of loss so as to enable the banks to provide relief to the affected farmers under Annawari scheme under the aegis of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines.