Invest in rural infrastructure development projects: DCM

From Our Correspondent

Itagar, Jan 19: Asserting that Aruchal has huge potential in growing agriculture and horticulture crops, deputy chief minister Chow Mein on Wednesday called upon the tiol Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (BARD) to invest more funds in projects which are related to rural infrastructure development and also to provide fincial assistance in the form of easy loans to farmers.

The request from Mein came while BARD GM S Sankara rayan along with his AGM K Jagadeesh called on the former in his official residence here, reports PRO. Stating that efforts are needed to add more value to the crops so that the farmers can get a better price, the minister asked BARD to conduct awareness on digital banking and to educate the people about less-cash transactions, especially in rural villages. Mein further said that the state government is open to new ideas and it has already been taking many initiatives to tap the huge latent of state which has gone unutilized so far.  There is a need to identify the potential of Aruchal Pradesh through remote sensing and by conducting soil tests which will in turn improve productivity, he said.

GM rayan who is also the officer-in-charge of BARD Regiol Office (Aruchal Pradesh) apprised the deputy chief minister about the progress under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) during the year.  He informed that BARD has already sanctioned Rs 237 crore and will sanction another Rs 18 crore soon for 21 projects under RIDF for the state government.

The fund would be utilized for improving infrastructure in road connectivity (112.60 km), rural drinking water supply, school education and flood protection projects. These projects intend to benefit about 1.80 lakh population in 146 villages in eleven districts, he informed.

rayan said that the BARD sanctions amounted to 127 percent of allocation for the state under RIDF which is the highest in the country this year.  He also added that the bank has already released Rs 84.30 crore in respect of ongoing projects and is also expected to release another Rs 80 crore more for projects sanctioned during the year. “The sanctions and disbursements during the current year are the highest so far to the state,” claimed rayan. Briefing Mein about the measures being taken up by BARD for less-cash transactions and digital banking like granting of assistance to commercial banks for setting up solar based V-Sat facility in remote locations, support to Aruchal Pradesh Rural Bank and Apex Bank for issuing Rupay Cards to Kisan Credit Card holders and for supply of PoS machines, the GM  He offered to work with the government in its endeavor to create awareness about digital banking and fincial literacy including 100 percent coverage in selected villages. He on the occasion also informed that the state level plan for 2017-18 would be discussed in the state credit semir which is scheduled to be held on February 17 next and the same would be attended by officials of state and Central governments, banks, research institutions and NGOs. Meanwhile, the deputy chief minister appreciated BARD for providing the much needed support to state especially in building up infrastructure and stated that their support would hugely benefit the people of Aruchal, the report added.