Mon, June 23 (MExN): Villagers of Phuktong in Mon district were imparted knowledge on banking and responsibilities of a citizen to catch up with the advancing standards of the government and banking sector during a Financial Literacy Camp (FLC) organized by State Bank of India (SBI), Mon branch on June 21.
KK Sharma, the chief manager of SBI Mon branch, spoke as resource person on the need to avail Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) by linking Aadhaar with bank account to enjoy schemes offered by the government, namely job card in MGNREGA, LPG subsidy, PMAY etc. He shared the latest rules to open individual saving bank account and documents required for different bank accounts. He specifically said bank accounts which are not linked with Aadhaar by December 2017 shall become non-operational, besides restriction of deposits or withdrawal above 50000 to/from the account shall come into force.
“Today’s much talked mobile banking enables a farmer to send money to their children, update account balance or make order of products from company shops through mobile handset itself,” Sharma added, according to a press release from Rajuselie Lhousa, District Coordinator (Financial Inclusion), NSRLM Mon. He also disclosed that the bank is ready to offer credit to NRLM compliant women SHGs at 7% interest. Calling upon the public for building confidence, he said the bank exists to render service to the public while the customers should never fail the bank by defaulting recovery of loans or create hurdle to other loan applicants.
In the interactive session, regarding minimum number of KCC loans offered by the bank branch, the chief manager clarified misuse of privilege by authority of some villages and failure in repayment by beneficiaries in the recent past as the main reason. Responding to queries on minimum bank branches in the district, he disclosed that poor net connectivity is the main hurdle. In conclusion, he appealed for stronger public support towards better infrastructure in the district so as to pull in maximum banking opportunities for its people.
Rajuselie Lhousa in his keynote address shared the objectives of FLC and status of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) being implemented with considerable success in Nagaland State. He reminded the women SHGs to sincerely keep up the five principles ‘panchasutra’ of NRLM to grow as strong institutions and attain women empowerment while also appealing to the men folk to give support to reduce poverty within one’s own society. He expressed happiness and gratitude to the bank branches of Mon for facilitating FLC in all the 19 villages under Mon RD Block, whereby stronger relationship is built with its stakeholders.
Altogether, 95 participants representing village council, village development board, church leaders and 13 self-help groups (SHGs) attended the programme.
