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Banks asked to open zero balance accounts

CHANDIGARH: Punjab’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon has taken a serious note of reports that some commercial banks have been demanding deposits ranging from Rs.2,500 to 5,000 from farmers to open accounts for crediting cheques of bonus on sale of paddy issued by the Government.

Mr. Kairon said the State Government, which had decided to pay a bonus of Rs.50 per quintal on paddy directly to the farmers, would take a serious view of such “unfair practices” by the banks.

The Minister has directed all banks to open the farmers’ accounts with zero balance facility.

While Mr. Kairon has warned that any banks failing to adhere to the State Government’s directions would be de-panelled from handling food accounts, the District Food and Supplies Controllers have been directed to ensure that no farmer faces any difficulty in opening or operating his account.

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Banks asked to open zero balance accounts

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