THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI BALASAHEB VIKHE PATH) :
(a) and (b) Yes, Sir. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) had
started opening of one man District Offices since 1989 to provide expert guidance to the
financing banks in the areas of credit planning, monitoring and coordination. During the
period 1988-89 to 2000-01, NABARD has opened 304 District Development Managers (DDM) Offices
in the country. The State-wise details of the number of such offices are given in the
statement enclosed.
(c) NABARD has reported that opening of DDM Offices at the district level has helped in
increasing the pace of rural development of the country through augmenting the ground level
credit flow, employment generation and economic prosperity of the rural people. The DDMs
render useful help and guidance to the district authorities/credit institutions in tapping
of exploitable potentials available in the districts and also help in identification/formation
of Self Help Groups/Non-Government Organisations/Voluntary Associations, etc. and their
credit linkage with financing banks to help poor people under the scheme of micro-credit
innovations. Further, DDMs also monitor implementation of Rural Infrastructure Development
Fund (RiDF) Projects/Watershed Development Programmes, etc. in the district and issuance of
Kisan Credit Cards to the farmers.
(d) and (e) NABARD has reported that it proposes to open some more new DDM offices in
the country in a phased manner. During the current year, NABARD has opened twenty three
new DDM offices.
(f) NABARD sanctions loans to State Governments out of Rural Infrastructure Development
Fund (RIDF) for taking up incomplete infrastructure projects as also rev,-projects under
irrgation sector, rural roads and bridges, watershed development, flood protection,
command area development, etc. The details of the number of projects and amount sanctioned
under RIDF to the State Government of Maharashtra during the last three years are as under:-
(RS.in crore)
Purpose 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000
No. Amount No. Amount No. Amount
Rural Bridges 68 9.73 245 21.82 285 23.39
Rural Roads 654 244.58 654 179.67 1264 326.89
Minor Irrigation - - 12 88.77 - -
Medium Irrigation - - 01 11.71 - -
