Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel pushes 'last-mile credit' for farmers, small entrepreneurs
Synopsis
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel used the 190th SLBC meeting to push banks beyond routine lending — demanding last-mile credit delivery for farmers, Divyang entrepreneurs, and SC/ST applicants under the new Industrial Policy-2026. With KCC saturation and cyber fraud vigilance also on the agenda, the meeting signals Gujarat’s intent to make its banking network a frontline tool for inclusive growth.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel chaired the 190th SLBC meeting in Gandhinagar on 13 August .
He urged banks to ensure ‘credit to the last mile’ for micro entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, rural artisans, and small farmers.
Banks were directed to achieve full saturation of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme among eligible farmers.
Gujarat Industrial Policy-2026 incentives for startups, SC/ST, Divyang, and first-generation entrepreneurs were highlighted.
Das called for expanded branch networks and vigilance against cyber fraud and mule accounts .
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday, 13 August called on banks to extend “credit to the last mile,” urging financial institutions to make loans and support services readily accessible to micro and small entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, rural artisans, and small farmers. Patel made the appeal while chairing the 190th meeting of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) in Gandhinagar.
Key Directives from the Chief Minister
Patel pressed bankers for faster processing of applications under government schemes and broader coverage of eligible beneficiaries. He emphasised that banks must move beyond their traditional role as lending institutions and actively support social development and the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is moving towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy, with the banking sector playing a key role in this journey,” Patel said.
Kisan Credit Card Saturation Drive
The Chief Minister specifically directed banks to ensure that all eligible farmers yet to avail the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme are brought under its coverage. He argued that full saturation of the scheme is essential for its benefits to reach intended beneficiaries, particularly those in remote rural areas.
Gujarat Industrial Policy-2026 and Inclusive Finance
Patel also highlighted provisions under Gujarat’s new Industrial Policy-2026, which offers targeted assistance and incentives for startups, women entrepreneurs, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs, Divyang entrepreneurs, and first-generation entrepreneurs. He urged banks to leverage technology to deliver timely credit and financial assistance to these applicant groups.
Government-Banking Coordination and Cyber Vigilance
Chief Secretary M. K. Das underscored the need for close coordination between the government and the banking sector to sustain Gujarat’s economic momentum. He acknowledged banks’ contribution to the state’s growth and called on them to stay alert against cyber fraud and mule accounts. Das also urged banks to expand their branch networks so that residents of even the smallest villages can access banking services with ease.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Dr T. Natarajan; Bank of Baroda Managing Director and CEO Dr Debadatta Chand; Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Regional Director Amresh Ranjan; Director in the Centre’s Ministry of Finance Swagat Bhandari; and senior officials from various banks.
The push reflects a broader national priority of deepening financial inclusion in India’s agrarian and informal economy segments, with Gujarat positioning its banking ecosystem as a delivery vehicle for welfare and industrial policy alike.
Point of View
But the SLBC forum has heard similar appeals before — the gap between committee resolutions and ground-level disbursement remains Gujarat’s persistent challenge. The KCC saturation push is overdue; data consistently shows large pockets of eligible farmers in tribal and semi-arid districts who remain outside formal credit. What is missing from the meeting’s reported outcomes is any accountability mechanism: no disbursement targets, no timelines, no consequence for under-coverage. Without those, the directive risks becoming another aspirational headline rather than a measurable policy shift.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel say at the SLBC meeting?
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel urged banks to extend ‘credit to the last mile,’ making loans accessible to micro entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, rural artisans, and small farmers at the 190th SLBC meeting in Gandhinagar on 13 August. He also called for faster processing of government scheme applications and wider beneficiary coverage.
What is the Kisan Credit Card scheme and why is Gujarat pushing its saturation?
The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) is a central government scheme providing farmers with flexible, short-term credit for agricultural needs. Patel directed banks to cover all eligible farmers not yet enrolled, arguing that full saturation is necessary for the scheme’s benefits to reach those it was designed for.
What does Gujarat Industrial Policy-2026 offer to entrepreneurs?
Gujarat’s Industrial Policy-2026 provides targeted assistance and incentives for startups, women entrepreneurs, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs, Divyang entrepreneurs, and first-generation entrepreneurs. Patel urged banks to use technology to deliver timely credit to these groups.
Who attended the 190th SLBC meeting in Gandhinagar?
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary M. K. Das, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Dr T. Natarajan, Bank of Baroda MD and CEO Dr Debadatta Chand, RBI Regional Director Amresh Ranjan, Ministry of Finance Director Swagat Bhandari, and senior officials from various banks.
What cyber-related concerns were raised at the SLBC meeting?
Chief Secretary M. K. Das called on bankers to remain vigilant against cyber fraud and mule accounts, which have become a growing concern for the banking sector. He also urged banks to expand branch networks to improve access for residents of smaller villages.
