Poojary asks banks to lend for creation of self-employment

Kota Srinivas Poojary, Udupi-Chikkamagalur MP, has asked banks to give priority for lending to schemes like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) to create more self-employment.

Speaking at the District Consultative Committee and District Level Review Committee meeting for banking development in Udupi on Saturday Mr. Poojary said economy grew when more people are self-employed.

The MP asked banks to instruct its employees to speak with customers in Kannada at branches. If no Kannada speaking officials are posted, it should ensure that Kannada knowing employees are deputed from other branches to deal with customers in Kannada.

Mr. Poojary said that while lending under PM Vishwakarma Yojana, Udupi district secured second position in Karnataka. Efforts should be made to take the district to the top position as prominent nationalised banks took birth in the coastal belt.

He said that under the Union and State government schemes, financial assistance and benefits should reach the common people without any inconvenience being caused at the banks. More people should be enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), which are the social security schemes, he said.

Any problems faced while providing financial assistance should be resolved promptly to ensure achievement of the set targets, he told bankers.

According to the statistics placed by the lead bank in the meeting, Udupi district achieved 86.28 % of its agriculture credit target during 2024-25.

When it came to lending to the MSME sector, 91.08 % of the target was achieved in the last financial year.

The data showed that the district achieved 95.50 % target in advancing to education and 85.37 % progress in lending to housing sector.

The Chief Executive Officer of Udupi Zilla Panchayat Prateek Bayal participating in the meeting said that lending to priority sector, as per RBI guidelines, needs to be increased. Women from self-help groups seeking financial help to start small businesses should be encouraged. ‘‘They should be given proper guidance about the schemes and documents needed, and no application should be rejected by the banks,” he said.