RBI launches awareness programme in North East

With the objective to create awareness regarding banking services among people in remote villages of North-East, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has undertaken a series of financial outreach programmes in the region.

The first programme was launched at Khonoma village near Kohima, capital of Nagaland recently.

Deputy Governor of RBI Shyamala Gopinath launched the programme and, according to a press statement issued by the central bank, it was attended by several hundreds of villagers.

“Our aim is to cover more and more people by the banking system,” said Gopinath.

Khonoma village has a population of around 3,000 with 435 households.

The number of bank accounts opened by the villagers till date is just 170.

The villagers were taught how to distinguish between genuine and forged currency notes, during the programme.

The camp which was attended by the National Bank for Agricluture and Rural Development (Nabard) officials highlighted various schemes related to uplift the rural poor and micro-insurance plans.

According to Gopinath, banks operating in the area will conduct follow-up programmes for adopting villages in the district and for achieving 100 per cent financial inclusion.