RBI Dy Gov for 'focussed agenda' for improving CDR

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor K V Chakrabarty has emphasised adoption of business-like approach with focussed agenda to resolve the low credit deposit ratio and other banking problems in Bihar.

Addressing the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) meeting here last evening, Chakrabarty looked unimpressed and instructed the bankers to adopt "business-like approach with focused agenda" to discuss and resolve the banking problems.

He advised the bankers to utilise the SLBC forum effectively and said it should be examined why the credit flow was low.

"It will be better to discuss the issue to resolve the problems", he said and added that the meeting must be more business like instead of making speeches and leaving the matter to ministers.

Reminding the bankers that the RBI central board meet was scheduled here on February 18, Chakrabarty said banks had to reach every family.

He asked the bankers to achieve financial inclusion of all the families in every 2,000-strong populace village within the planned, targeted period, and every family ought to have at least one Kisan Credit Card (KCC).

"Education loans are being given to students who read in Delhi, Bangalore and other big cities. The alibi that Bihar has no good institution, is not tenable. Banks are doing good, but a lot more is needed to be done. The credit must flow. The CD ratio has to improve," the RBI deputy governor stressed.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Finance Minister S K Modi said the state government had been insisting on increasing the credit-deposit ratio from the present 32.6 per cent to 40 per cent.

"May be, 40 per cent is high, but the bankers can bring it to the 35 per cent mark during the next fiscal. They should do it," he said.

Senior state officials, besides top officials of banks also attended the meeting.