September 19, 2014
West Bengal Chief Minister inaugurates 51 bank branches for rural areas
West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee inaugurated fifty one new bank branches in 35 blocks of 14 districts, through a remote-control switch, for the panchayats where banks do not exist. The Canara Bank has associated itself with the West Bengal Government in this venture.
A brief programme was organized at Nabanna, the state secretariat. Dr Amit Mitra the state Finance & Industry Minister and the Chief Secretary of the state along with officials from Canara Bank and other financial bodies were present on the occasion.
All the branches will offer basic banking services. A total of 1,000 accounts in each branch have been opened. Among the districts, South 24-Parganas has the highest number of 16 bank branches.
The bank branches were opened at panchayats in Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Dakshin Dinajpur, Uttar Dinajpur, Maldah, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Pargansas, Bardhaman, Howrah, Pashcim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur, Bankura, Birbhum and Nadia.
The West Bengal government had in June 2014 decided to provide space to banks in order to set up new branches in Gram Panchayat offices in villages, with the view to promote financial inclusion.
“The government would give space in the offices of Gram Panchayat so that banks could set up brick-and-mortar branches in the rural areas which will promote financial inclusion,” state Finance Minister Dr Amit Mitra had said.
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