Modi asks rural banks to take steps for meeting loan target

The Bihar government today expressed displeasure over low distribution of kisan credit cards by rural banks in 2012-13 and asked them to take effective steps to meet the loan distribution target of Rs 13,260 crore in the present financial year.
In a review meeting with regional rural banks, Deputy Chief Minister and state's Finance minister Sushil Kumar Modi expressed dissatisfaction over distribution of only 1.30 lakh kisan credit card against a target of 2.53 lakh in 2012-13 fiscal.
Modi asked the three leading rural banks of the state--Central Bihar rural bank, Bihar Regional rural bank and North Bihar rural bank-- to take effective steps to achieve the target of distributing Rs 13260 crore loan in 2013-14.

In addition to senior officials of the three banks, a representative from Reserve Bank of India was also present at the review meeting, a release from Modi's office said.
The bank officials told him that around 30 lakh accounts were opened in rural areas last fiscal with the help of bank correspondent agents appointed by rural banks.
During review meeting it came to light that rural banks opened 88 new branches in Bihar in 2012-13 and they have a target to open 91 new ones in 2013-14.
Modi reminded the banks that Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram had asked to open at least 750 new branches in Bihar in the current fiscal. Chidambaram at a meeting with banks in Rajgir early this month had asked them to extend all assistance to Bihar in the process of development.