Having come across in local newspapers on February 10, that the Honorable Governor of Nagaland organized a meeting with Bankers at Raj Bhavan, I, as a grass-root worker, at my own individual capacityand on behalf of the rural populace, would like to take the privilege to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Governor of Nagaland. It must be truly the first-ever of its kind for a Governor to have initiated such a meeting with bankers in the State.It is true indeed “development cannot be brought by the government alone—banks have the responsibility in developing the society”.Opening of Bank branches in interior townships would be the noblest and effective means to make the government programs reach the door step of every citizen.
In recent years, the Government of India (GoI) have been issuing certain directives: banks to open bank branch in every RD Block; financial inclusion is made reach to the doorstep of every citizen, beyond household coverage; schemes like PMDJY, PMSBY, PMJJBY, APY with insurance schemes and pension schemes, MUDRA scheme etc. were announced by the BJP ministry; assurance to provide direct benefit transfer (DBT) schemes viz. LPG subsidy and PDS through Bank accounts; and most recently the government encouraged the public to avail e-banking, internet banking etc. for all financial transactions. Under the guidelines of DeendayalAntyodaya—National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) or Ajeevika, every women SHG member requires to open a Saving Bank account.
However, taking the status of RD Blocks of Mon district as an example, there are 8 RD Blocks. Only 50% have Bank branch. The 4 (four) un-Banked RD Blocks are Chen, Angjangyang, Tobu and Phomching. The most interior block—Tobu RD Block office, situated 120 KMs away from the district headquarters, takes 6-7 hours travel through unpredictable road conditions, is still un-Banked, while the farthest village under Tobu block Hqs. is about 50 KMs deeper with no proper road.To cite few instances where a farmercustomer find difficult to subscribe to the demands of the Banks particularly the SBI, a customer—be it in the case of opening saving bank account or credit application, has to put up every casephysically present. The service of Business Correspondent (BC) working under SBI Mon is neither rendering proper service nor monitored by its management. There isno Customer Service Point (CSP)introduced in the District. The District Level Bankers Coordination Committee (DLCC) meetings are not conducted regularly— quarterly. The Financial Literacy Camps (FLC), a program which facilitates the primary needs of the public, are hardly conducted, ignore about follow-up implementations.
Sadly, no new bank branches have come in the un-Banked blocks in the State to handle or manage all the people-centered schemes introduced by the present ministry. At the present state, it is near to impossible in truest sense, for the rural mass to come to avail the benefit schemes which are offered through Banking. On the other hand, the work load of the bank—neck of the government system, have tripled—they are over-burdened.
Keeping my hopes alive, I am of the opinion that the Chief Secretary to the Government of Nagaland who is also the chairman of the State Level Bankers Coordination Committee writing to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)for immediate remedial measures will be most effective. Furthermore, the RBI may be sought for relaxation of restriction of opening new bank branches by the State-owned bank—the Nagaland State Cooperative Bank (NSCB)—the first choice of the local populace.
Surely, the Banks could even play as anagent incleansing records of individuals as well as eradicatingbogusor fictitiousstatistics in the society.
