Banks play vital role in giving momentum to the development of the country and strengthening its economy, said Governor Shekhar Dutt.
Addressing the sixth annual convention of Chhattisgarh Economic Council and national symposium on “Bank and role of financial institutions in economic development”, organised on the occasion of the silver jubilee of the establishment of Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University in Raipur, the governor said that it was necessary to provide banking services to all with top priority and without any bias. He was the chief guest of the function.
The governor said that Chhattisgarh is blessed with priceless medicinal plants and forest produce, with which the economic status of farmers of the State could be strengthened. There were probability for development of village industries, he added.
The governor said, “Besides agriculture, we need to promote the farmers to the allied areas of agriculture like horticulture, veterinary, fisheries, dairy products, poultry, bee-keeping, handicrafts etc. We have to promote production of pulses also,” he added.
The governor praised the presentation made by NABARD chairman Dr Prakash Bakshi. Following the presentation, Dutt expressed his concern over the figures of loan taken by the farmers from moneylenders during the period from 1951 to 2002 and said, “It would be a deplorable matter for us, if our farmers will have to go to the moneylenders for loan. In order to stop such situation we need to bring changes in the system of providing loan,” he added.
Chairman of NABARD and the main speaker of the programme Dr Prakash Bakshi said that in 1967 a most important thing had happened when the 14 major banks of the country was nationalised. Definitely, in the economic view, it had provided momentum to the development of the country. In 1989, the banks were allotted rural areas and which has positive results also, he added.
General Secretary of South Asia Foundation, New Delhi Rahul Barua said that banks and financial institutions have played vital role in arresting the financial crisis in the country. Even now, banking facility has not been reached to the farmers of unorganized sectors. There were need to work in this direction, he added.
Chhattisgarh Economic Council chairman Dr Hanumant Yadav, Pt Ravishankar Shukla University vice chancellor Prof SK Pandey, Secretary Indian Economic council Dr Anil Thakur, coordinator of national symposium Dr Ravindra Brahme and students in large number were present at the symposium.