Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 27: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today released the “State Focus Paper-2016-17” of National Bank of Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) for Jammu and Kashmir at a day-long seminar organized by the NABARD here today.
The Union Minister, who was the chief guest on the occasion, also released three brochures of NABARD and honoured some Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) operating in the State for exhibiting excellent performance during the year 2015-16.
Advisor to Governor, Khurs-hid Ahmed Ganai was the guest of honour on the occasion.
Congratulating NABARD for bringing out the vision document that depicts future estimation of credit potentials for financing of priority sectors by banks in the State, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the document would serve a useful purpose of realistic credit planning by the banks for the balanced growth of various sectors of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy. The document identifies the infrastructural requirements in all the districts across the State and will help the State Government in preparing the developmental plans accordingly, said Dr Singh.
The Union Minister called upon the NABARD to play its important role for the development of the State in view of its typical geographic and climatic conditions, the economic prosperity of the people, especially in the rural and far-flung areas who are dependent for their livelihood on the sectors like agriculture, horticulture, agricultural-allied activities, animal husbandry, food processing, artisans, handicrafts, handloom, education, housing, micro, small and medium enterprises etc.
Maintaining that Modi Government at the Centre has vindicated the dream of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi by focusing on the development of the rural areas, Dr Singh said that NABARD has also the mandate to develop and improve the living profile of the rural people and exploiting the actual potential of the rural areas. He said Mahatma Gandhi had rightly said that India lives in rural areas and we must make sincere efforts to develop the rural pockets to fulfil his dreams.
Referring to the unique welfare initiatives launched by the Government namely, Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Jan Dhan Yojana, the Union Minister said that these schemes are aimed at directly benefitting the poorest of the poor and have received overwhelming response from the people. The Jan Dhan Yojana, which enables the poor beneficiary to open a bank account with zero balance, has proved a milestone and more than 20 crore people have opened their accounts and deposited over Rs 30, 000 crore.
Similarly, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Yojana will help millions of farmers in the State who would frequently face the threat of draught and natural calamities every year. The banks must fulfill their social responsibilities and take suitable measures to generate the employment opportunities by providing loans to the unemployed youth for setting up their income generating units in different business activities.
Advisor to Governor, Khurshid Ganai appreciated the NABARD for this meticulous effort in bringing out this precise document which emphasizes on Long Term Investment Credit needs of the agriculture and allied sectors. He highlighted the low credit ratio in the State, especially in Jammu region and called for taking corrective measures to improve it. He called for a coordinated approach between the bankers and State Governm-ent for achieving the targets.
He also highlighted the importance of skill development of entrepreneurs and stressed for imparting skill trainings to the unemployed youth so that they can take up the self-employment ventures easily.
Chief General Manager, NABARD, Shanker A Pande explained the vision document in detail and its far-reaching benefits with a view to ensuring the required flow of institutional credit to various sectors of the rural economy. He said that the Credit Potential under priority sector estimated at Rs 18058 crore was the aggregation of Potential Linked Credit Plans prepared by NABARD for all the 22 districts of J&K. He highlighted the efforts being made by the NABARD to strike regional and sectoral balance in credit flow in the State, which at present is lopsided.
Commissioner/Secretary, Agriculture Production Depar-tment, Mohammad Ashraf Bukhari, heads of various departments of State Govern-ment, heads of leading banks in Jammu and Kashmir, members of SHGs were also present on the occasion.
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