Don’t link scheme beneficiaries’ accounts with loan accounts: DC

DHARWAD: Deputy commissioner Gurudatt Hegde has instructed bank officials not to link the bank accounts of beneficiaries of various central and state government-sponsored schemes with their loan accounts.
Releasing the District Annual Credit Plan worth Rs. 13,671 cr for 2022-23 prepared by District Lead Bank during the District Level Review Committee and District-Level Consultative Committee, Hegde said banks should join hands with the administration in implementing social welfare initiatives. The DC asked the officials to ensure that the services to beneficiaries were made available easily under various state and central government schemes, including PMFME, animal husbandry and fisheries, crop loan waiver and social security schemes.
He also asked officials to make available Kannada-knowing staff and officials in bank branches in rural areas and set up helpdesks. “Bank challans and vouchers should be in Kannada. If the banks delay extending financial assistance to selected beneficiaries, then the officials of government departments concerned should coordinate with lead bank manager and address the issue,” he said.
Referring to delays due to technical issues like linking of Aadhaar, mobile number and others, the DC asked officials to address them after making bank-wise list of such beneficiaries and dispose them off at the earliest. “There is a direction that while extending assistance to beneficiaries, CIBIL score should not be considered and the banks should strictly follow it. Beneficiaries should not be made to run from pillar to post to procure documents,” he said.
ZP CEO Suresh Itnal said in Dharwad district, 138 women members of self-help groups had received training of ‘Banking Correspondent Sakhi’ (BC Sakhi). Of them, only 50 women were actively working. He said the administration would give village-wise data on trained BC Sakhis and the banks could avail their services.
Under the district credit plan with an outlay of Rs. 13,671 crore, Rs 5,813 crore has been earmarked for farm sector, including Rs 3,223 crore for farm loan; Rs 1,647 crore for short-term farm loans and supplementary activities; Rs 300 crore for farm infrastructure and Rs 642 crore for farm allied activities.