New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today inaugurated State Credit seminar organised by NABARD in Gandhinagar and invoked banking sector for active participation for creating self-dependent India (Atmanirbhar Bharat) by strengthening infrastructures of agriculture, industry and service sectors and focusing more on small- medium scale industries, their productions and export.
In this context, CM said that in this auspicious year of “Aazadi ka Amrut Mahotsav”, maximum participation from rural banks such as NABARD as well as nationalised banks is need of the hour for creating India as our freedom fighters envisioned.
On this occasion, CM released State Focus Papers 2021-22 and distributed approval letters of Gujarat’s first NABARD sponsored Rural Business Incubation Center, to be initiated at Sardar Krushi University in Dantiwada.
Mr. Rupani also expressed his opinion that in the quest for emerging India as self-dependent and economic superpower, Gujarat, as a development model, has tremendous responsibility.
“Affluent agriculture means affluent villages, affluent villages imply to affluent cities/metros, and affluent cities lead to affluency in employment and economic sectors. With the motto of providing transparent and decisive government schemes, for which, more serious and engaging contribution from banks is required.” Said Mr. Rupani, indicating banks to ease loan-assistance for farmers and MSME businessmen.
Agriculture provides major rural employment, Mr. Rupani encouraged generating higher employment opportunities through better loan-assistance for such sector.
The CM also appealed banks to actively contribute through 360-degree change, in sync with government, towards upliftment of agricultural, industrial and service sectors and create Gujarat as a ‘Growth Engine’ of India.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid strong foundation for development of Gujarat, and now we are committed to direct this growth toward better than the best through prompt decisions aimed for public welfare.” stated Mr. Rupani.
For sustainable and widespread growth of Gujarat’s agricultural, industrial and service sectors, Mr. Rupani stressed on the need to develop and strengthen infrastructure facilities.
The CM further added that banks are required to work in synergy with government and take quick decisions. Schemes such as ‘Saat Pagla Khedut Kalyan na’, ‘Kisaan Suryoday Yojana’, ‘Sauni Yojana’, Drip Irrigation and renewable energy, industrial policy, ‘Mukhya-mantri Bagayat Vikas Mission’, and ‘Mukhya-mantri Mahila Utkarsh Yojana and others have been initiated by the Government.
The CM said that this government is working by taking quick public interest decisions to fulfil the aspirations of the people.
Mr. Rupani appealed to the nationalized banks to join in and fulfil the demand of the time in the same manner as the co-operative banks have shown enthusiasm to provide loans and assistance during the pandemic time.
Our government is moving forward in the direction for the development of farmer, village, MSME, industrial service sector on the basis of policy driven State. Reforms in law and policy have been made where necessary. Mr. Rupani hoped for the cooperation of NABARD and banks in setting up 1 thousand FPOs in the state for the greater prosperity of the farmers as well as in identifying each district, making the economically backward districts prosperous.
Agriculture Minister Mr. R. C. Faldu expressed confidence that the sensitive approach of the CM for crop insurance assistance, zero per cent interest lending, godown assistance as well as purchase at support price(MSP) in the state would surpass the determination of farmers to double their income by 2022. He also thanked NABAR for its potential project of Rs. 2 lakh 24 thousand crore.
The seminar was attended by Minister of State for Agriculture Mr. Jaydrath Singh Parmar, Additional Chief Secretary to Finance Department Mr. Pankaj Joshi, General Managers of various Nationalized Banks as well as Secretaries of various Departments of the State Government.
