Odisha asks Banks to speed up Aadhar seeding, open branches

Bhubaneswar, Aug 19 (PTI) Noting that about 80 percent of gram panchayats in the state do not have a bank brach,the Odisha govenrment today asked bank authorities to take upa drive for Aadhar seeding to encourage Direct Transfer ofBenefits (STB) to all beneficiaries under various schemes. "Poor Aadhar seeding of bank accounts is also aworrying factor. Although Aadhar enrolment has been done for91 per cent of the eligible people in the state, Aadharseeding has been done only for 35 per cent of the bank accountholders. Banks may conduct Aadhar seeding in Camp Mode incoordination with concerned government departments," Odisha’sFinance Minister Pradeep Kumar Amat said while addressing the144th Meeting of the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC)here. Amat said the state government is going to set up aDBT Cell to improve direct benefit transfer. Efforts have been taken to provide basic bankingservices in interior areas through Business Correspondents(BCs). However, still a sizeable number of people in ruralareas are deprived of reliable banking services, he said. "I request all banks to ensure basic bankingfacilities in the Sub Service Areas allotted to them in a timebound manner," Amat said adding that initiatives have beentaken to provide banking service in interior areas throughSelf Help Groups (SHG) as Business Correspondents. Initiatives have also been taken to establish Banks onWheels through mobile vans. Many banks have also startedinstalling Micro ATMs, through which rural customers of anybank can withdraw money from any bank outlet. Banks shouldthink of many more such innovative ideas to reach out to ruralmasses, he said. MORE PTI AAMMM