GUWAHATI, Oct 1: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has reviewed the performance of seven regional rural banks (RRBs) of the Northeast covering Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.
During a review meeting in Itanagar, the Union finance minister was apprised about the improvement in the financial performance of the RRBs of the Northeast and their technology upgrade ever since the regular review was initiated in 2022.
Given the crucial role of RRBs in supporting the rural economy, Sitharaman urged RRBs – with the active support of their sponsor banks – to increase credit disbursement under various Government of India flagship schemes.
The minister also said that focus should be on credit for agriculture, horticulture and allied activities like piggery, sericulture, fisheries, etc. She also directed NABARD to promote FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations) in the Northeast region.
Sitharaman also urged stakeholders to hold special State Level Bankers’ Committees (SLBCs) meetings involving RRBs to explore the possibility of tapping the potential of horticulture, floriculture, sericulture and animal husbandry in the Northeastern states; resolve the issue of availability of land records for extending agri credit and; increasing credit for agri-processing units.
States were urged to ensure the provision of mobile veterinary units in each district.