RANCHI: Reserve bank of India deputy governor Anand Sinha will visit Seraikela on November 22 to give an impetus to the financial inclusion drive. Under the financial outreach programme of RBI, senior officials of the apex bank will visit different districts across the country and encourage banks, financial institutions and local government to boost up economic activities to involve rural masses in particular. The Jharkhand regional office of the apex bank said Sinha would attend the daylong programme at Seraikela and address senior bank officials to ensure that performance of the national and private banks improve in not just Seraikela but all over the state. Earlier this year, RBI governor D Subbarao and erstwhile deputy governor Shyamala Gopinath had visited Jharkhand under financial outreach programme. While Subbarao visited Lohardaga, Gopinath went to Deoghar. Both the visits were beneficial for the rural populace in the districts as the banks were compelled to open branches and increase financial activities, particularly through business correspondents and virtual branches. The mineral-rich Seraikela-Kharsawan district, famous for its historic and cultural importance and Kuchai silk, has not seen light of development. At present, 27 branches of nationalized banks are operational in the district with Bank of India having the maximum of 15 branches. Most of the banks have opened one branch in Adityapur region which is considered as one of the largest industrial area in Asia. However, bank officials admit that the district is far from achieving 100% financial inclusion. Wide disparity in distribution of bank branches and lack of awareness to financial activities is common in the region. An RBI official in Ranchi said the role of the local administration and banks would be discussed during the daylong programme which is likely to encourage farmers and people associated with small scale industries to approach the banks and seek benefits of schemes offered by the Union government.
TOI
