The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘Speed up issual of Smart Cards’

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Friday, Jan 11, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘Speed up issual of Smart Cards’

Staff Reporter

Only 1,935 out of 3,602 pensioners present

Card to weed out duplicate and fake pensioners
Rs. 420 crore as crop loans target for kharif and rabi

Sangareddy: The district- level review committee bankers meet here on Thursday decided to speed up issuing of Smart Cards in municipal areas to weed out duplicate and fake pensioners. As per the results from the pilot project implemented in the municipality here only 1935 pensioners turned out for the smart cards out of 3602 pensioner supposed to be on rolls.

Addressing the meeting Collector B.Venkatesam said that he would ask the Municipal Commissioner to give some more time for the absentees to come and claim their cards otherwise the old age pensions would be cancelled.

The Collector has asked the State Bank of Hyderabad and Andhra Bank to take up Siddipet and Medak areas for provision of multi-purpose Smart Cards.

The Collector has asked the banks not to reject applications to open accounts from blind persons. He said that he has received several complaints that many banks refused to open accounts because they are blind. He pointed out that the Reserve Bank has asked several banks to go for Total Financial Inclusion (TFI) and these acts go against the spirit behind that direction.

The banks were also told to reopen branches in areas once under the influence of Maoists. The district, which has set a target of Rs. 420 crore as crop loans under both kharif and rabi seasons, has decided to create awareness among farmers about the 2 per cent discount on interest rate if they renew the loan by paying up old dues rather than taking a new loan at 9 per cent interest rate. The Collector has expressed concern over the tardy progress of issuing Kisan credit cards. Around 180 branches of 15 nationalised and rural banks have so far issued 54,438 Kisan credit cards in the district during last financial year.

The Collector has asked the lead bank, State Bank of India, to direct other banks to provide latest data for the district level review meetings. He expressed dissatisfaction over the data on achievements of the district credit plan, dating back to October of 2007. According to the data, the banks have archived a target of 64 per cent in crop loans, and 63 per cent to Self Help Groups.

This year the district has set a target of Rs. 206 crore as loans to SHGs and the banks have already done Rs. 125.48 crore by October.

Member legislative council R. Satyanarayana, legislators Harish Rao, Padma Devender Reddy and ZP chairman M. Balaiah were also present.

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