Agartala, February 14 (TIWN): Tripura is all set for a major expansion of banking services in the rural and hilly areas to ensure that people have easy access to banks and can derive the benefit of direct cash transfers by the Centre. For this purpose, Tripura Gramin Bank and Tripura State Co-operative Bank are playing the lead role. Replying to Reference Period notice submitted by MLA Samir Deb Sarkar and Jashbir Tripura, Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha told that the expansion of banking services in the State fully depends on the Reserve bank of India and Lead Bank.

Recently the State government, by recognizing 107 centres including 3-4 Panchayats, ADC Village, the proposal had been sent to Lead Bank and State Level Bankers Committee. The State Government had also requested the Central Government to establish Common Service Centre to provide steady functioning.  Minister told that Reserve Bank of India decided that banking services should be provided to mass people are depending upon per 2 thousand.

At the initial stage four districts — Khowai, Dhalai, West Tripura and North Tripura — had come under the scheme. Announcing the expansion programme here, finance minister said these areas already had 18 ATM Counters. Still 17 more counters will be needed.

The minister said besides taking up the issue with the RBI, the government had also taken it up with the state-level banking co-ordination committee. “We had persuaded the SLBCC and the RBI to launch 52 branches in the last two financial years, 2011-12 and 2012-13. Forty seven of them have become operational and we hope the remaining branches will be set up within a short span of time.”He said of the 373 branches belonging to 32 nationalized, regional-rural and private banks, 211 (57 per cent) were located in rural areas. “In the Agartala Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat areas we now have 162 bank branches but more are needed to cater to the growing demands of the people.

The minister, however, expressed dismay over the credit-deposit ratio maintained by the banks in Tripura. “The CD ratio had nose-dived to 23 per cent during the insurgency period. But now when there is no insurgency the CD ratio is still well below 40 per cent, much lower than the national average of 60 per cent.” He expected the nationalized banks to take a fresh initiative to improve the CD ratio in the state.