There’s need for financial literacy among the marginalised in North East: SBI GM

Guwahati, April 12 (UNI): There is a need for increasing financial literacy among the marginalised and the poor in the North East to reap the benefit of financial inclusion, said State Bank of India General Manager Suranjana Dutta at a conclave organised by India’s first multi-lingual news agency United News of India (UNI) here on Tuesday.

Speakers included lenders, finance experts, industry representatives and academicians. Among those who attended the pane discussions were North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFI) Chairman PVSLN Murthy, NABARD Deputy General Manager Walter Kujur,  Associate Professor of Indian Institute of Banking Management Dr Abhijit Sharma and Adviser to North East Tea Association Bidyananda Borkakoty. The panel discussion was moderated by senior journalist Anirban Roy.

Pobitra Margherita, Rajya Sabha Member from Assam, was the guest of honour in the conclave. In his inaugural speech, Margherita spoke about the importance of the banking system for the overall development of a state.

Participating in the panel discussion, the NEDFI Chairman stressed the need for the state-specific schemes to boost the development of the region.

Kujur underscored the various initiatives the development bank has undertaken for providing a seamless credit facility to the farmers in the region. The UNI conclave was organised in Northeast for the very first time.

UNI Editor in Chief Ajay Kaul in his address said the agency will organise many more such events in other states of the region dwelling on financial inclusion and last mile delivery of development schemes.