NABARD conducts Punjab State Credit Seminar for FY2024-25
Harpal Singh Cheema, Minister for Finance, Govt. of Punjab, launched the State Focus Paper for FY2024-25 during the State Credit Seminar organized by NABARD on 16th February 2024. Sh. Diprava Lakra, IAS, Secretary Finance, GoP; Sh. Raghunath B, CGM, NABARD Punjab, Sh. Devinder Singh, IAS, MD, PStCB, Dr. Inderjeet Singh, VC, GADVASU, Ludhiana, Smt. Savita Verma, DGM, RBI Chandigarh, Sh. G.K.Negi, Chairman, Punjab Gramin Bank and other representatives from line departments, banks, agriculture universities participated in the seminar.
The estimation of lending potential towards priority sectors such as agriculture, MSMEs, and Other Priority areas like education, export, housing, renewable energy, among others, stands at ₹2.43 lakh crore.
Approximately 49% of the credit potential, i.e., ₹1.18 lakh crore, has been identified for the agriculture sector..
Sh. Raghunath B., CGM, NABARD explained in detail about the process of preparation of Potential Linked Credit Plan at district level and culmination of the same as State Focus Paper (SFP) at state level.
Finance Minister appreciated NABARD’s assistance, since its inception, in the development of Punjab especially through various irrigation, rural connectivity and social infrastructure projects funded under Rural Infrastructure Development Funds. He raised concern on depleting ground water in the state and appealed for addressing the issue through crop diversification initiatives, adoption of micro irrigation technologies and collaboration with stakeholders. He called upon the stakeholders to take leads from the SFP for the overall development of the state.
Finance Minister felicitated FPOs, SHGs, JLGs and Banks for their outstanding performance in their respective fields. A walkthrough exhibition highlighting the field interventions of NABARD was organized. Hon’ble Finance Minister, interacted with the beneficiaries of various schemes of NABARD and lauded their efforts.
