Bandaru Dattatraya, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Labour & Employment said that the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is extending financial assistance to the schemes being implemented by the state and central governments in a big way. Speaking at the press conference here on Thursday after a review meeting with officials of the NABARD, he said that mainly rural people of SC, ST and OBC communities are benefiting by these schemes. Women through SHGs are also benefiting, he said.
Bandaru Dattatraya informed that he has reviewed on the funds scenario to the various schemes in two Telugu states for the year 2016-17 and present financial year. “As planned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, farmers’ income has to be doubled by 2022 and by NABARD’s financial assistance to the banks is vital for this goal”, he said. NABARD provided Rs. 3680 crore and Mission Bhagiratha and Rs. 4000 crore to the Mission Kakatiya, at the reduced interest rates, he said. Issuing Kisan Credit Cards to the farmers is an important issue and banks should work on this, he said.
Dattatraya informed that to achieve the financial inclusion, Kisan Credit cards to the famers is vital. Around 16.5 lakhs Rupay Kisan Credit cards in Telangana and 14 lakh Rupay KCCs were issued in Andhra Pradesh, he said. BJP MLA Kishan Reddy, NABARD Chief General Manager (Telangana) Radha Krishna, Suresh Kumar, CGM (AP) and other officials were present. (NSS)