(a) whether the nationalized banks in Bihar, particularly in rural areas of Saharsa,
Madhepura and Supoul districts are violating the guidelines issued for providing the
bank loans;
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to provide adequate bank loans to the
people of above rural areas?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR) :
(a) No such-instances have been brought to the notice of the Government/Reserve Bank of India.
(B)Does not arise in-view of (a) above.
(c) RBI/NABRD have taken several measures to further strengthen the flow of credit to
farmers in the rural areas. Some of these are :
(1) Introduction of cash credit facility for meeting composite credit requirement
of farmers having a good track record;
(2) Introduction of the Kisan Credit Card Scheme for agricultural borrowers;
(3) Banks have been advised to open specialized agricultural branches to take care
of financing of high-tech agricultural projects:
(4) RBI has introduced simplification of loan applications, delegation of powers
to branch managers, introduction of composite cash credit limit to farmers, introduction
of new oan products, cash disbursement of loans, discretion to banks on matters relating to
margin/security requirements for loans above Rs. 10,000/- and dispensing with `No Dues
Certificates` as a compulsory requirement;
(5) Any shortfall in the target of lending to agriculture has to be contributed to
Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) whichhas been established with NABARD for
assi-sting State Governments and State-owned Corporations in quick completion of on-going
projects relating to rurai infrastructure.