Orissa receives increased support from NABARD

Kalingatimes, 16th April, 2008
KalingaTimes Correspondent Bhubaneswar, April 16:

Orissa received a financial support of Rs 1215 crore from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) during 2007-08. At their annual press conference held at the bank's Orissa Regional Office here on Wednesday, the Bank's Chief General Manager C.R. Patnaik said while Rs 231 crore was given as loans to the State government under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund during the last fiscal, Rs 359 crore was released as investment credit support to banks and a sum of Rs 625 crore was disbursed as production credit support to various banks.Orissa had received Rs 1176 crore support from NABARD during 2006-07, Patnaik informed. Besides, NABARD disbursed an amount of Rs 900 crore during 2007-08 towards credit disbursement under the Self-Help Group (SHG) bank linkage programme that has credit linkage with 2.6 lakh SHGs.
Further, the Bank supported several programmes aimed at development of rural non-farm sector and creation of alternative employment opportunities. The Bank officials informed that three WADI projects aimed at integrated tribal development had been sanctioned in Mayurbhanj, Malkangiri and Kandhamal districts.The project envisages WADI (Fruit orchard) development over one thousand acres involving 1000 tribal families of the above districts. Around 6500 acres WADI had been developed by March end this year.
Under the watershed development programme, the Bank supported two projects at Bhitariguma in Kalahandi and Dharupada in Nuapada districts together covering 600 hectares. Besides, there were 11 other watershed development projects (three in Kalahandi and eight in Angul) wherein capacity building phase had been completed.
The Bank has also launched a pilot project for integrated development of backward Blocks in one Block each in 10 districts of the State. The objective of the initiative is to develop a replicable model where the selected Block is developed in an integrated manner.During 2007-08, NABARD also adopted 74 villages in 30 districts of the State under the village development programme.
This programme envisages integrated development of the villages with focus on financial inclusion, economic development, infrastructure development and other aspects of human life.
Under the farmers' clubs programme, 225 new farmers' clubs were launched during the last financial year by sponsoring through banks.
As regards support non-government organisations, NABARD sanctioned grant assistance of Rs 44170 to VARRAT, an NGO in Keonjhar district on system of rice intensification vermin-compost and integrated farming system.