Odisha to have DBT cell to fast-track direct transfer

The Odisha government is planning for a Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) cell to improve direct benefit transfer to the beneficiaries in the state.

"The government wants to encourage direct transfer of benefits to all beneficiaries under various government sponsored schemes. This has not been possible due to poor bank branch network in interior areas. Poor Aadhaar seeding of bank accounts is also a worrying factor. I am happy to note that the state government is going to set up a DBT Cell to improve direct benefit transfer" , said Pradip Amat, state finance minister at the 144th SLBC (State Level Bankers' Committee) meeting on Friday.

The Aadhaar enrolment in the state, so far, is 91 per cent of the eligible people, but the Aadhaar seeding has been done only for 35 per cent of the bank account holders.

Banks might conduct Aadhaar seeding in camp mode in coordination with concerned government departments, Amat added.

About 9.7 million new bank accounts have been opened in the state under the Jan Dhan Yojana. Around 25 per cent of these accounts are zero balance accounts.

"Also, 25 per cent of these new account holders are yet to receive their pass books. We should strive to make the existing bank accounts fully operational so that people are not denied basic banking facilities," he added.

The banks are urged to achieve the 100 per cent loan target under agriculture and allied sector. Banks in the state had achieved only 85 per cent of their crop loan target for the year 2015-16.

"Unless we start achieving our quarterly targets from the beginning of the year, we cannot achieve the Annual targets. Therefore, I request the state heads of all banks to closely monitor their target achievement under Priority Sector loans," Amat urged.

Banks in Odisha have recorded 78.56 per cent CD (credit deposit) ratio as on June 30, above the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mandate of 60 per cent. The total outstanding advances in the state stood at Rs 1,72,434 crore against the deposit of Rs 2,19,482 crore as on June30.

Total deposits have increased from Rs 1,99,838 crore as on June 2015 to Rs 2,19,483 crore as on June 2016, registering an increase of Rs 19,645 crore. The incremental growth is 9.8 per cent. The total adavances were recorded at 1,72,434 crore , an incremental growth of 21.8 per cent.

The non performing assets ratio in the state is alarmingly high at 12.86, which the bankers consider as highest among states in the country.