Banking services in panchayats within 3-day

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday said banking services in panchayat offices will be provided within 2-3 days to ensure that the rural people do not face any difficulty due to demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.

Taking a review meeting on the currency situation, chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi said the banks have been asked to engage women self-help groups and Bank Mitra’s of Odisha Livelihood Mission as business correspondents for hassle-free transactions in the panchayats.

He also said the block officials can be engaged as business correspondents.

The chief secretary said as per information furnished by RBI, notes worth ₹6000crore have been exchanged in Odisha till date.

The majority of the 6085 ATMs in the state have started functioning. Some of these ATMs have also started dispensing the new Rs 2000 notes.

Chief Secretary advised the banks to allocate each of the 4401 unbanked Gram Panchayats in the state to business correspondents and to prepare a detailed action plan for providing basic banking services in the rural areas.

As the cash holding limit of BCs had been increased to Rs 50,000, it was decided that they may also be engaged in the exchange of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.

Panchayati Raj department was advised to facilitate BCs to operate from Gram Panchayat offices so that they can help the rural people in withdrawing cash and exchanging of old notes.