Banks Urged To Provide Services In Unbanked Panchayats Of Odisha

Bhubaneswar: A proposal to extend banking services to the unbanked panchayats across Odisha was presented during the 157th State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) meeting held in Bhubaneswar today.

As per reports, discussions were held to provide space free of cost to banks to open branches. The Odisha government has decided to open two branches of State Bank of India in Malkangiri, informed Development Commissioner Suresh Mohapatra after the meeting.

"The Odisha government has improved the connectivity in rural areas by constructing good roads. Keeping that in view, all the banks have been requested to open branches in the unbanked panchayats of the State," said Mohapatra.

Speaking about the proposal, Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari said, "Our top priority is to provide service in the remote areas. There are 4,921 panchayats where there are no brick and mortar branches."

The meeting also laid emphasis on ensuring that beneficiaries of different schemes receive monetary assistance in their bank accounts.