Banks In Balangir District Emerge Top Performers In Priority Sector Lending In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Different commercial banks in Odisha’s Balangir district have emerged best performer in priority sector lending in the state.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday awarded 9 banks for best performance in priority sector lending, namely agriculture, Mission Shakti and MSMEs. The Chief Minister had decided to award these banks and districts in last SLBC meeting.

In the farm sector lending, Central Bank of India, Balangir branch received the 1st prize; Axis Bank, Rayagada 2nd prize and Axis Bank, Sambalpur the 3rd prize. Similarly, in lending to small entrepreneurs, Union Bank of India, Balangir got the 1st prize; Bank of India, Jayadev Vihar, Bhubaneswar 2nd prize and Union Bank of India, Talcher the 3rd prize.

In lending to Mission Shakti Groups, State Bank of India, Kantabanjhi in Balangir got the 1st prize; SBI, Dunguripalli in Subarnapur district 2nd prize and SBI, Malkangiri the 3rd prize. The Chief Minister awarded Rs 5 lakh to the banks winning first prize, Rs 3 lakh for the second prize and Rs 2 lakh for the third prize.

Odisha State Cooperative Bank received award for maximum lending in agriculture sector, State Bank of India for maximum lending to MSMEs and Odisha Gramya Bank for maximum lending to Mission Shakti Groups. State Bank of India and Indus Ind Bank received award for maximum overall lending to priority sector.

Congratulating the best performing banks at a function organised at State Convention Centre, Loka Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, the chief minister hoped that these champion banks will be exemplary models for other banks. All banks together have disbursed credit to the tune of Rs 1.03 lakh crore and achieved more than 93% of the Annual Credit Plan for 2021-22 despite the COVID pandemic, he added.

He further said the state has fixed an ambitious Annual Credit Target of Rs 1.34 lakh crore for the current financial year in view of higher demand for credit. The banks should make efforts for better credit linkage in all the three priority sectors, he added.

“The government accords high priority to safeguarding and protecting the interest of the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in our State. We need to support farmers, Mission Shakti group members and MSMEs. It has recently been decided to provide credit support to Mission Shakti Groups to the tune of Rs 50,000 crore in next five years,” Naveen said.

Speaking on the occasion, chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said it is a historic moment as bankers would be recognised for the first time for their contribution to priority sectors. Principal secretary, Finance Vishal Dev said priority sector lending in the state is growing at the compounded annual growth of 18.86%.

APC-cum-ACS, Agriculture Sanjeev Chopra; principal secretary, MSME Ranjana Chopra and Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Mission Shakti Sujata Karthikeyan made a brief presentation on lending patterns of their respective departments. Among others, executive director, UCO Bank also spoke on the occasion.

It may be noted that Odisha is the only state in the country that is encouraging banks with awards for priority sector lending.