Banks plan social support schemes

Business Standard, July 4, 2007

In an effort to improve the economic status of the poor people through dedicated corporate programmes, at least two nationalised banks have chalked out social welfare plans in Orissa for the current financial year.

Syndicate bank said it would take up extension activities in all its rural branches for educating and training villagers in different aspects of agriculture, animal husbandry, plantation and fish rearing.

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) said it would organise at least three training camps for women in southern Orissa during 2007-08.

"We have decided to organise at least three training camps on tailoring, handicraft and beauty therapy for rural women in southern Orissa towns at Rayagada, Jeypore and Bhawanipatna" said Naresh Choudhary, the senior regional manager of the bank here.

At Jeypore in Koraput district, the bank has decided to impart training to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women.

In Rayagada, training to be given to the weaker section people.

Similarly in Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters of Kalahandi district, women in general categories will get training.

In each camp, scheduled to start in July or August, at least 20 women would be participated.

The respective branch managers would select the women to get training, he said.

The bank will spend at least Rs 1.50 lakh for the purpose.

All the expenditure incurred on training the women will be borne by the bank, said Choudhary.

The training was expected to lead to skill development of women in rural areas.

After getting training for a fortnight, they would receive financial assistance from the bank for establishment of units in various fields.

"Our corporate office has agreed for three training camps initially and if more number of women come forward for skill and entrepreneurship development, more number of camps will be organised" a senior regional manager of IOB said.

Syndicate Bank would conduct 58 extension activities during 2007-08.

The bank's Berhampur branch has recently held a farmers' meeting on jatropha plantation at Narendrapur in Ganjam district in collaboration with the Orissa Nature Care & Council (ONCC), an organisation imparting training on jatropha cultivation for bio-diesel.

ONCC provided technical know-how and inputs for jatropha planting while the bank was financing farmers, said R N Patnaik, chairman of ONCC.

Syndicate Bank offered Rs 10,000 to each of the 55 farmers in the village for taking up of jatropha plantation, said M M Muduli, branch manager of bank.

Jatropha cultivation was done in about 105 acres in the village.

Syndicate bank would donate Rs 10,000 each for renovation and cleaning of ponds in 10 villages during the current year.

"It is a part of the social welfare measure of the bank with the help of local people" said AC Das, the regional manager of Syndicate Bank at Bhubaneswar region.

Syndicate Bank would in parallel cover at least 1500 drivers of commercial vehicles under its Synd-Drive Insurance scheme during the year, said Das.