SHILONG/TURA: Governor Tathagata Roy launched the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) in the city on Saturday along with its nationwide launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion, Roy said IPPB is another scheme that will bring governance close to people. He lauded Modi who, “throughout his tenure has concentrated on bringing out schemes which will bring government closer to the people”, especially through digital means.
Stating that the scheme will bring the benefits of banks closer to the last person even in the remotest village, Roy pointed out that due to poor banking network in the country, many distortions have crept in with chit funds and Ponzi schemes where poor and illiterate people have been duped.
Meghalaya, which comes under the North East Postal Circle, has two head post offices, 68 sub-post offices and 422 branch post offices, out of which IPPB branches have been set up in both head post offices (Shillong GPO and Tura HO) and six sub-post offices with access points at nine sub-post offices and 23 branch post offices.
With IPPB in place, people in rural areas will be able to access digital banking and financial services, including money transfer, to any bank account either with the help of mobile app or by visiting a post office.
MLA Sanbor Shullai and other officials of the North East Postal Circle were present at the function.
Meanwhile, IPPB was also launched in Tura with a colourful function organised by the Department of Posts. Tura head post office in West Garo Hills became one of the 650 branches and 3,250 access points across the country to be included in the India Post Payments Bank.
Speaking at the launch in Tura as chief guest, Additional Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills Mary T Sangma congratulated the Department of Post for the noble initiative and for providing facilities which will benefit the people of the region. She also urged the people to opt for these facilities and be a part in economic development of the country.
Samir Bhowmick, principal of College of Teacher Education at Rongkhon, who was the guest of honour, lauded the department of post for their good service and added that these banking services would provide facilities on the doorstep.
The IPPB has been incorporated as a public sector company under the Department of post with 100 per cent government equity and is governed by the Reserve Bank of India, informed the postmaster, Tura Head Post Office, Nirmal Chakraborty.
He also said the department is providing banking services on the doorstep of the people with the tagline “Aapka bank, Aapka Dwaar” by simple banking solutions on latest digital technology platform. He also informed that the motto is to encourage the habit of savings, investments, insurance among poor people of the region in particular and nation as a whole.
Moreover, the postmaster informed that financial inclusion is also available to the economically backward section of people in the urban and rural areas and provide loans at reasonable interest rates from normal banks so that they do not become victims in the hands of local money lenders.
) During the function, the chief guest also released the Special Cover on Financial Inclusion and launched the IPPB Branch and also distributed QR Card to Account holders.
Earlier in the function, there was a Live telecast of the National Launch Event presided over by Prime Minister of India from Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi.
