Mumbai, April 28 (IANS) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday launched ‘Mission SAKSHAM’, a nationwide capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening the Urban Cooperative Banking (UCB) sector through structured training and skill development programmes.

Unveiled by the RBI Governor, the mission seeks to enhance the capabilities of urban cooperative banks by equipping their workforce and leadership with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate an evolving financial landscape.

The initiative is part of the central bank’s ongoing efforts to reinforce regulatory and supervisory frameworks in the sector.

Under Mission SAKSHAM — derived from the Hindi word meaning “to make capable” — the RBI plans to conduct a large number of training programmes, both in-person and through e-learning platforms, targeting around 1.40 lakh participants across the country.

The training will cater to a wide range of stakeholders, including board members, senior management, heads of risk, compliance and audit functions, as well as employees working in IT and other critical operational areas.

The central bank said it will strive to deliver training content in regional languages wherever feasible to ensure wider accessibility and better understanding among participants.

The programme has been designed in consultation with the umbrella organisation of UCBs and various national and state cooperative federations.

According to the RBI, the mission is expected to significantly improve managerial and operational efficiency within urban cooperative banks, while also strengthening compliance culture and institutional resilience.

It aims to create a sustainable ecosystem of continuous learning that supports the long-term stability and healthy growth of the UCB sector.

“The Mission is expected to enhance managerial and operational capabilities, improve the compliance culture, and strengthen institutional resilience across UCBs,” the central bank said.

“Mission SAKSHAM aims to establish a sustainable, self-reinforcing ecosystem for continuous learning, contributing significantly to systemic stability and healthy growth and development of the UCB sector,” it added.

–IANS

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