More outlay for farm sector in credit plan

BHUBANESWAR: The State-Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) adopted the Annual Credit Plan for the State for 2012-13 setting a target of total disbursement to the tune of Rs 27,789.29 crore.The Credit Plan outlines greater outlay for agriculture this fiscal and has earmarked Rs 14,178.86 crore for the sector out of the total disbursement target.The 127th SLBC meeting was held here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Executive Director of UCO Bank S Chandrasekharan and State Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei. The committee reviewed the performance of banks and financial institutions.Under the Annual Credit Plan 2011-12, the achievement of banks in all sectors up to March 31 this year was only 77 per cent. The committee emphasised on proactive efforts to meet the targets and extend more finances to the agriculture sector.The SLBC also observed that banking facilities have been provided to all the 1,877 villages with 2,000-plus population which had been identified and allocated to different banks under the Financial Inclusion Plan. Brick and mortal branches have been opened in 54 places while 1,740 villages have been covered through banking correspondents. Mobile van banking operations have been extended to 83 villages.