Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday inaugurated two branches of State Bank of India (SBI) in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack along with 28 Financial Inclusion & Micro Market (FIMM) district sales hubs (DSH) in 28 districts through a video conference.
The chief minister urged the bank to provide loans at zero percent interest to the Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) under Mission Shakti in rural areas to strengthen their remarkable role in financial inclusiveness.
The Chief Minister said that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the banks will play a crucial role in reviving the financial condition of the poor and migrant labourers in rural areas.
Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy, Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari, Development Commissioner Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Secretary To CM VK Pandian and other officials of SBI were present on the occasion.
Naveen said, “The State Bank of India should aim at opening more and more branches in the inaccessible areas of Odisha.”
Finance Department Minister Niranjan Pujari said, “This initiative of SBI will benefit more and more people of rural and sub-urban areas.”
