The Hindu : SLBC proposes Rs. 16,510-cr. annual credit plan for State

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 22, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

SLBC proposes Rs. 16,510-cr. annual credit plan for State

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD May 21. The State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) has proposed a Rs.16,510 crore Annual Credit Plan for 2002-2003 for Andhra Pradesh, which is a 38 per cent increase over the achievement of Rs.12,004 crores for 2001-2002. The plan was launched by the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, at the 150th SLBC meeting here on Tuesday.

The Annual Credit Plan 2001-2002 had set a target of Rs.14,000 crore, but the achievement was Rs.12,004 crores or 86 per cent. As against the Rs.7,500 crores crop loan disbursement target, the State managed Rs.6,124 crores (achievement of 82 per cent). Last year's plan resulted in employment to 23 lakh individuals, while it is projected at 27.41 lakhs this year.

For 2002-2003, the crop loans are projected at Rs. 8,600 crores, Agriculture Term Loans at Rs.1345 crores, Allied Agriculture at Rs.980 crores, Non-Farm Sector at Rs.2525 crores, and Other Priority Sector at Rs.3060 crores.

In the previous year, Agriculture Term Loans target was Rs.1,200 crores (achieved Rs.689 crores or 57 per cent), Allied Activities Rs. 800 crores (achieved 59 per cent), and Other Priority Sector Rs. 2200 crores (achieved Rs. 2,587 crores or 118 per cent).

Addressing members of the SLBC, Mr. Naidu sought their cooperation in achieving targets in all major sectors. Banks, he told them, played a crucial role in the economy and contributed 4.86 per cent of the State's Gross Domestic Product.

Mr. Naidu said the Government was working on various e-governance projects like setting up the e-seva centres which were witnessing 30 to 40 per cent of transactions in the Twin Cities. The Government was keen on expanding the e-seva network, he said and urged banks to look into the possibility of participating in e-seva projects. The State Secretariat, he said, will go online from November 1, and become a `paperless office'.

In response to bankers' plea, Mr. Naidu said he was prepared to have a `sub-committee' to look into the problems of `financing tenant farmers' and suggest modalities to resolve them. Mr.Naidu went a step forward and suggested that the banks come forward to set up sub-committees to coordinate and monitor `target achievements' set out in the Annual Plan, district and mandalwise. He suggested that bankers also set "monitorable and achievable targets."

The Government wanted to reduce the cost of inputs and also go in for modernisation and higher productivity. He also wanted the bankers to give item-wise details for paddy, cotton, dairy, horticulture, dryland agriculture and to review the situation once in two months.

Giving an overview of the plan, B. Vasanthan, president of SLBC, and Chairman and Managing Director of Andhra Bank, said A.P. stood first with 1.17 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs) being financed under NABARD linkage to the tune of Rs.263 crores. At the all India level, 2.35 lakh SHGs were financed Rs.519 crores. Within the State, East Godavari topped followed by Srikakulam. In all, there were 4.23 lakh SHGs in AP, with savings of Rs. 640 crores. The State stood first in issue of Kisan cards at 42.72 lakhs (40 lakh target), financing rural godowns, Vikas Volunteer Vahini (VVV) clubs (931). Andhra Bank introduced a new scheme `Kisan Sampathi (produce loans)', he said.

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