Chandigarh: Dr. Rajiv Siwach, CGM, NABARD, Punjab Regional Office informed that NABARD is directly supporting State Government through various concessional funds like Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), Micro Irrigation Fund, warehousing funds, etc. for the creation of rural infrastructure. NABARD also provides refinance to Cooperative Banks, RRBs, Banks, and other agencies for financing farming and rural enterprises. CGM informed that NABARD has provided all-time high financial support of ₹12,108 crores in the State by registering a growth of 51% over the disbursement during the previous year.
With the active cooperation from State Government, the RIDF disbursement was doubled to ₹600 crores during the last year under RIDF. Dr. Siwach indicated that NABARD sanctioned new projects with RIDF assistance of ₹564 crores including smart school classes, rural roads & bridges, drinking water and sanitation, irrigation, health, etc. In order to address the issue of depleting groundwater in the State, Micro Irrigation Fund has been implemented in the State with a sanction of ₹150 crores benefitting about 26000 ha. Further, a Credit Facility was provided to State Government-owned federation ‘Milkfed (Verka)’ for liquidity support during the COVID pandemic.
CGM informed that refinance support of ₹11311 crores was provided in the State by registering a growth of 48% over the disbursements during the previous year. This includes ST refinance ₹8061 crores for crop loan to farmers, of which ₹6416 crores were given to Cooperative Banks through PACS. ₹3251 crores as LT refinance was given to support investment credit for rural activities through Banks. The refinance also includes ₹1500 crore given to RFIs under Special Liquidity Fund to ensure credit flow to the farmers for harvesting of rabi crop and sowing of paddy crop during COVID lockdown.
During the year, total grant assistance of more than ₹10 crores was sanctioned and released more than ₹4 crores for developmental activities in the State. The first time a Watershed project was sanctioned in Ropar district to check soil erosion and water conservation in the Kandi area. A pilot project with a financial outlay of ₹6.37 crore has been sanctioned in Patiala and Sangrur districts to reclaim 1000 ha Alkaline soils. Punjab RO has sanctioned the Phulkari-based Off-farm Farmer Producer Organisation (OFPO) of women in Sangrur district. Climate Change is another important area where NABARD is playing an important role. NABARD is National Implementing Entity for Climate Change Funds. Financial support of ₹14.31 crore was released for two NAFCC projects being implemented in the State.
NABARD has sanctioned assistance of ₹4.64 crores under Financial Inclusion Fund to the Rural Financial Institutions and other banks/ agencies in Punjab for creation of financial literacy and demonstration of banking technology, etc.
CGM informed that NABARD is a pioneer in the promotion of the Farmers Producers Organisation. During the year 2020-21, Central Sector Scheme (CSS) has been operationalized with the approval of 5 CBBOs in Punjab.
CGM informed that during COVID-induced lockdown, the SHG members could not market their produce, therefore, NABARD had taken initiative to onboard SHG members through NGO partners on the e-commerce platform “Flipkart – Samarth”. A successful initiative was taken for women empowerment through JLG financing by DCCBs.