The Hindu : Other States / Punjab News : Role of private banks scrutinised

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Wednesday, Apr 13, 2005

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Other States - Punjab

Role of private banks scrutinised

By Our Special Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 12. The Haryana Finance Minister, Birender Singh, today charged that the role of private sector banks in Haryana in providing credit facilities for the developmental schemes of the State was not very satisfactory.

Speaking at the 91st meeting of the State Level Bankers'

Committee, Haryana, organised by the Punjab National Bank, here today, he said that these banks should be persuaded to come forward and play an important role.

He said that the new Congress regime in Haryana was committed to provide social justice and implement schemes of socio-economic development. He appreciated the overall progress under the Annual

Credit Plan 2004-05 for the quarter ended December 2004.

He announced that the State Government would soon launch a special programme for child development and women empowerment.

The PNB Chairman and Managing Director, S.S. Kohli, in his keynote address, said that it was imperative that banks addressed the problems facing the farmers with a sense of urgency.

He added that Haryana, being primarily an agrarian economy, was uniquely positioned vis-à-vis the agro-based and food processing industry.

On the performance of banks in Haryana during the review period from December 2003 to December 2004, he said that 67 new branches of Commercial Banks and Regional Rural Banks were opened, raising the total number of branches from 1,558 to 1,625. The total deposits of the Banks in the state increased from Rs.25,686 crores as at December 2003 to 34,578 crores as at December 2004, showing growth of 22.9 per cent as compared to growth of nine per cent during the corresponding period of last year.

The Advances also increased by Rs.5,404 crores from Rs.12,686 crores to Rs.18,090 crores, thereby showing a growth of 42.6 per cent as compared to growth of 21.2 per cent during the corresponding period of last year.

Among others who attended the meeting were B.P. Chopra, General

Manager, PNB, Northern Zone, K.S. Bhoria, IAS, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Cooperation, Haryana, Dheera Khandelwal, IAS, Special Secretary, Finance, Haryana, Ramesh Chandra, Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India, D.L. Rawal, General Manager, PNB, New Delhi, B. Karjee, General Manager, RBI, New Delhi,and A. Ramanathan, Chief General Manager, NABARD.

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