Bank customers are forced to trudge many kilometers to access banking facilities due to the absence of nationalised bank branch in the Henwal valley in Tehri district. Due to this, the locals are unable to access various banking services including loan on time. The villagers of this area have now written to the Chief Minister Harish Rawat, seeking a solution to their banking woes.
Situated on the Chamba-Rishikesh motor road, Khadi is the main local market for residents of dozens of villages. There are about 200 commercial enterprises, dozens of educational institutes and various State Government office in and around Khadi but there is not a single branch of a nationalised bank here.
The locals are facing problems due to the absence of a nationalised bank branch in the area. The villagers have for long been demanding that a branch of a nationalised bank be opened here but the authorities have remained apathetic. District Panchayat member Anil Bhandari and social worker Bhaskar Gairola said that in the absence of a nationalised bank branch here, villagers from remote areas are forced to cover an additional distance of between 15 and 25 kilometres to access the facility at Chamba or Fakot. Accessing banking facility takes up almost the entire day of villagers.
They point out that a survey had been undertaken in the past for opening a bank branch here but the issue was put on the back burner after that. The locals have demanded necessary action without further delay to meet their banking requirements.