Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh congratulated the State Bank of India authorities and the people of Kakching district on the district being included among the 75 Digital Banking Units across 75 districts dedicated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Nation on Sunday.
The chief minister was attending the programme of “Dedication of 75 Digital Banking Units (DBUs) across 75 Districts” by the Prime Minister through video conferencing at State Bank of India Branch, Chumnang Leikai, Kakching district.
Speaking at the formal function, after the video conferencing, CM Biren continued that Kakching district has been included among the 75 districts as a credit for the district’s achievement of banking digitisation in October, 2020. Recalling the hardship faced in accessing banking services and loans by the public earlier, he maintained the public can now avail banking services at their doorsteps as different from earlier times. Banks are now providing loans to various farmers, entrepreneurs and other individuals, without hesitation, to enlarge their businesses and improve their earnings, he added.
The chief minister appreciated the Prime Minister for his far-sighted vision to ensure welfare of his people. The Prime Minister’s initiatives of Digital India and Direct Benefit Transfer schemes had been successful in minimising corruption in the country. This has also ensured that the benefits of welfare schemes reached its targeted beneficiaries without middlemen, he added. He mentioned that the government has been working in coordination with certain banks to improve the rural economy at grassroots level. Stating that Kakching district had already achieved full digitisation in banking transactions, he informed that the government is targeting to achieve the same for Noney district by 2023.
CM Biren further stated that many entrepreneurs and start-ups had been benefited with bank loans to expand their operations and contribute to the development of the economy. As such, many outside products are being substituted by local products produced by various local firms and enterprises. He also mentioned that the state government had been putting in every effort to improve the earnings of every household of the state and to ensure at least one member of every household got employment for earning their livelihood.
The chief minister, while finishing his speech, endorsed the suggestion of the Prime Minister for every bank to get connected with 100 businesses or shops with the objective to achieve digitisation in business transactions.
The nationwide programme was attended through video conferencing by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das, Central government officials and Bankers from across the country.
From the state, the programme was also attended by Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, Manipur Pollution Control Board chairman Usham Deben, Hiyanglam AC MLA Yumnam Radheshyam Singh, Kakching AC MLA Mayanglambam Rameshwar Singh, BJP Manipur Pradesh president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, State Bank of India (SBI) North Eastern Circle general manager Lunkim Thangboi, Kakching deputy commissioner Somorjit Salam and employees of SBI, among others.
