Odisha CM reviews credit linkages to farmers, Mission Shakti and MSMEs

Bhubaneswar, Feb 26: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today appreciated the efforts of banks and districts for making coordinated efforts to improve lending to priority sectors.  Reviewing the performance over credit linkages with bankers, collectors and top officers of the state government today on virtual platform, the Chief Minister said that there has been a considerable progress in credit disbursement to priority sector during the last 2 months. Since the last review meeting two months back, the Chief Minister said, that he had requested all to go the extra mile in these crisis times and ensure adequate and timely credit supply to help the most vulnerable sections of society and economy –farmers, women and MSMEs. He further said that our Government is always concerned to safeguard and protect the interest of the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. The farmers, Mission Shakti groups and MSMEs are our lakhs of entrepreneurs who are in need of credit to run and expand their business. We need to support them in true letter and spirit, he added. Highlighting the importance of Agriculture, MSME and Mission Shakti, he said that for taking forward the momentum created in the last few months, the budgetary provisions for these sectors have been substantially increased for the Financial Year 2021-22. We are also providing Interest Subvention under various schemes to reduce the interest burden on the people and to enhance of credit linkage, he added. He noted that the Banks and Districts have done quite a commendable job in improving their performance in credit flow to Agriculture, MSMEs & SHGs sector. He congratulated all the Bankers for achieving the financial target meant for SHG sector well ahead of time.  The Chief Minister said that from the last meeting in December about Rs 1600 Crores more has gone to Mission Shakti groups which is about Rs 500 Crores more than the annual target. He complimented all the Banks and the district administration for this achievement and hoped that this good work would be scaled up.