Amit Mitra urges SBI to raise upward credit limit in state's social schemes

State Finance minister Amit Mitra on Tuesday urged Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairperson of State Bank of India, to increase the upward credit limit in various social schemes of the state.

Mitra said that the national credit ratio is around 73.73 percent in India while in Bengal the figure stands at a staggering 64 percent. The credit limit of the SBI is 50.58 percent.

Addressing the 14th Banking Conclave, organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Mitra reminded that the Chief Minister has attributed great emphasis on the enrollment of Kisan Credit Card for the overall economic development of the peasant community. But the number of Kisan Credit Cards disbursed by the SBI is low and thereby, the Finance minister requested Bhattacharya to increase the number of disbursements so that more number of people can be brought under the scheme. A total disbursement of Kisan Credit Cards in Bengal remains at Rs 16,34,535 in 2016-17 while the SBI has issued 1,33,720 for the same period. Bengal stressed on the Kisan Credit Card so that farmers get some financial advantage. In the self-help groups in Bengal, the total credit link registration stood at 2,24,884 while the SBI has done 21,863 credit link registrations which is comparatively low, Mitra pointed out.

Mitra said in the MSME sector, Bengal has performed exceedingly well securing the first position in the country. In case of the MSME sector, the reimbursement was at Rs 29,186 crore by all banks while the amount received from the SBI is around Rs 3,194.

Speaking on the occasion, Mitra once again reiterated that leather industrialists from Kanpur are going to set up a project here in the state at an approximate cost of Rs 1,000 crore where more than 6,000 people would get employment.

Mitra also urged the SBI Chairperson to increase the credit ratio in various social schemes to strengthen economic growth. Earlier in the programme, Bhattacharya said that Bengal needs to create right situation for credit absorption.