Chief Minister Revanth Reddy today met National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Chairman Shaji K V at the Assembly, and urged the bank to bolster its support for Telangana's agricultural sector.
The key points discussed in the meeting were the following:
- Lower interest loans: The CM requested that NABARD offer loans at reduced interest rates through the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), and approve the necessary funding for micro-irrigation projects to enhance water efficiency in farming.
- Strengthening cooperatives: Reddy called for increased support to existing cooperatives and the establishment of new ones to empower local farmers.
- Women self-help groups: The CM proposed a special program targeting Women Self-Help Groups to promote financial inclusion and entrepreneurship among rural women.
- Agricultural infrastructure: The Chief Minister sought NABARD's assistance in connecting Integrated Knowledge Platforms (IKPs), godowns and rice mills to boost milling capacity in the State.
- Timely utilisation of funds: The CM directed officials to ensure that NABARD funds allocated for the current fiscal year were utilised by March 31, and to leverage all NABARD-sponsored programs in the upcoming financial year.
- Solar initiatives: Reddy suggested inter-linking solar power generation plants sanctioned for women's groups with NABARD support to promote sustainable energy practices in rural areas.
- Rural connectivity: An appeal was made to increase rural connectivity in newly-created Gram Panchayats, enhancing infrastructure and accessibility.
At his end, the NABARD Chairman proposed the constitution of District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) in the new districts to strengthen financial infrastructure.
filed in:Telangana, Revanth Reddy, Banks, NABARD, Loans, Development, Rural Development