New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) More than Rs 524 crore in loans were disbursed to nearly 15,000 beneficiaries during two major credit outreach programmes held in Tripura’s Gomati and West districts under the chairmanship of Department of Financial Services Secretary M. Nagaraju on Wednesday.

The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, organised two large-scale credit outreach programmes in Tripura, during which banks disbursed loans worth over Rs 524 crore to around 14,739 beneficiaries across the state.

At the programme held in Udaipur in Gomati district, loans worth Rs 105.40 crore were distributed to 4,577 beneficiaries by various banks.

In addition, NABARD and SIDBI announced sanctions of more than Rs 2 crore for multiple development projects.

A cluster development branch of Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) was inaugurated in Udaipur to support the MSME sector and strengthen credit outreach in the region.

The Department of Financial Services also unveiled the Financial Inclusion 2.0 Vision Document during the event.

Addressing the gathering, M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, said financial inclusion should not be limited to opening bank accounts but must translate into meaningful socio-economic transformation.

He stressed the need for productive utilisation of loans and entrepreneurship-led employment generation.

He urged beneficiaries to utilise the sanctioned funds responsibly and ensure that loan accounts do not become non-performing assets (NPAs).

He also emphasised the importance of financial discipline and sustainable economic activities under government and banking schemes.

In a separate credit outreach programme organised in Tripura West district at Agartala, banks disbursed loans worth Rs 419.11 crore to 10,162 beneficiaries.

NABARD and SIDBI also handed over sanction and disbursement cheques for various projects during the Agartala event.

Ambulances sanctioned by Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India under their CSR initiatives were flagged off, while State Bank of India distributed cheques worth Rs 36.28 lakh for the purchase of medical equipment under its CSR programme.

During his address at Agartala, Nagaraju highlighted the progress achieved in Tripura under flagship government schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Mudra Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana.

–IANS

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