Union Finance Minister Sitharaman Visits Bihar to Enhance Rural Banking and Financial Inclusion
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Patna, Nov 29 (NationPress) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has reached Patna for a two-day engagement focused on boosting rural banking, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion in the eastern part of India.
During her visit, the FM will review the financial status of eight rural banks from the eastern zone located in Patna.
The participating banks represent Bihar (two banks), Odisha (two banks), Jharkhand (one bank), and West Bengal (three banks), and will be part of a meeting led by the Union Finance Minister.
FM Sitharaman will assess the situation regarding bad loans and explore strategies to lower NPAs in rural banks.
Additionally, she will scrutinize the loan disbursement process and its implications for rural development.
Her agenda also includes investigating ways to boost the digital capabilities of rural banks, thereby enhancing accessibility and efficiency for their customers.
Post the meeting in Patna, she will head to Darbhanga to take part in the Entrepreneurship Development Promotion Program.
At this event, a total of 26 banks are set to collectively release loans amounting to ₹1,300 crore.
The recipients will include small entrepreneurs, agriculture-focused industries, and 45,000 youth from the eastern region.
A gathering will be held at Raj Maidan Darbhanga.
The primary goal of this event is to foster self-reliance, stimulate local economies, and support agriculture and small enterprises.
These initiatives are designed to fortify the infrastructure of rural banking and promote economic advancement in eastern India.
Encouraging entrepreneurship and youth involvement via financial assistance aligns with government initiatives such as ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)’ and various rural development programs.
FM Sitharaman's visit to Darbhanga underscores the Union government's dedication to both the economic and social progress of the Mithilanchal region, as highlighted by Darbhanga MP Gopal Thakur.
Following the loan distribution ceremony, FM Sitharaman will deliver a speech at the same location. Her address is anticipated to underscore the government's developmental priorities for the Mithilanchal region, support for small enterprises and self-reliance initiatives, as well as updates on recent financial and infrastructure projects aimed at uplifting the area.
Gopal Thakur remarked that the consecutive visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the FM to Darbhanga within a month signify the Centre’s commitment to the development of Mithilanchal.
“These significant visits illustrate the government's determination to prioritize development in Bihar and its commitment to empowering rural and semi-urban locales through financial initiatives,” Thakur stated.
