The National Agricultural Bank for Agriculture
and Rural Development (Nabard) has “overachieved”
its target in Sikkim by disbursing the total funds of Rs 12.44
crore in 2006-07, Mr Sudipto Gupta, in-charge of NABARD, Sikkim,
said at a Press conference here yesterday.
Nabard provided loans to the tune of Rs 7.5 crore during the
year to the state government for infrastructure development
in rural areas. The loans were for projects like rural roads,
irrigation, pay and use toilets, rural marketing centre, schools
and drinking water.
The second sector of Nabard funding was in refinance support
to banks. “Refinance worth Rs 4.9 crore was provided
to commercial banks and Sikkim State Cooperative Bank”,
Mr Gupta, said.
The accumulative disbursement by Nabard under rural infrastructure
development as on March 31 2007 stood at Rs 61.3 crore and
cumulative sanctions has gone up to Rs 78.7 crore.
Nabard was also actively involved in social sector for development
activities like capacity building, exposure trips and support
to farmers clubs. The Nabard support was worth Rs 14.81 lakhs
during the year 2006-07.
“We have focused in village tourism”, said Mr
Gupta. Nabard has supported four popular tourism clusters
at Pastanga (East Sikkim), Kewzing (South Sikkim), Yuksom
(West Sikkim) and Dzongu (North Sikkim) in areas like communication
facilities and tourism sensitization, which is a first in
the country, he claimed.
The number of farmers’ club in the state has touched
98, courtesy Nabard, Mr Gupta said.
The bank expects that the total priority sector lending in
2007-08 would be around Rs 186.7 crore. “The focus of
development in agriculture should be on floriculture, horticulture
and cultivation of such other cash crops. Nabard, on its part,
will continue to focus on various activities relating to rural
development as it has been doing in the past”, Mr Gupta,
said.
Courtesy: The Statesman |
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