4,921 Odisha gram pachayats have no banking facilities:

With 4,921 gram panchayats in Odisha having no banking facilities, the state government on Saturday asked the bankers to open brick-and-mortar branches in remote and left-wing extremism hit areas.

The state government issued such direction to banks at the 157th meeting of the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) here.

"Banking service is not available in 4,921 of the state's 6234 gram panchayats. Since the state is attaching importance on DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer), works are severely affected due to lack of bank branches in rural pockets," said Finance minister Niranjan Pujari.

He said: "Unless financial inclusion is strengthened with brick and mortar branches, the DBT model cannot succeed."