Bhubaneswar: Chairman, NABARD, Dr. G R Chintala inaugurated Micro Credit Innovation Department (mCID) – Workshop cum Strategy meeting at Bhubaneswar on 20 September , which was attended by officials of NABARD from 15 different states & Head Office representatives.
In his inaugural address, he advised the participants to infuse required skills and facilitate more rural entrepreneurs to establish their own business and upscale them.
He interacted with the women entrepreneurs financed by Annapurna Finance an NBFC supported by NABARD.
NABARD Chief also visited the Odisha State Cooperative Bank (OSCB) and addressed the CEOs of all the Rural District Central Co-operative Banks in the State. He stressed upon diversification of loan portfolio, enhancement of Agriculture Term Loan and strengthening of the IT infrastructure of the cooperative banks to make them relevant and sustainable on a long term basis.
He also inaugurated the Business Diversification and Product Innovation Cell (BDPIC) established at Odisha State Co-operative Bank. He gave stress on increasing the share of cooperative banks in agricultural lending.
Niranjan Pujari, Finance Minister of Odisha along with Principal Secretary, Finance Dept. called on Chairman NABARD. They discussed about the status of various financial institutions in the State and the way forward. NABARD expressed its full cooperation to the State Government for building a healthy financial ecosystem in the State.
Later during the day, NABARD Odisha Regional Office organized a Conclave on Farm Sector Initiatives in Odisha wherein Chairman, NABARD launched various developmental projects benefitting tribal farmers & women SHG members. The conclave was attended by tribal farmers & Project Implementing Agencies.
He handed over sanction letters to Project Implementing Agencies in tribal dominated districts of Mayurbhanj and Gajpati.
He also launched a dedicated project on “Production and Market linkage of Sweet Potato” in Pottangi, Koraput. He opined that the project will help the farmers to diversify their products as well as tap the market for sweet potato.
Dr.Chintala also handed over sanction letter to Padma Shri Dr. Rajani Kant from Human Welfare Association, Varanasi for facilitating Geographical Indiaction (GI) registration of 05 products viz. Kala Jeera rice, Lacquer art, Mrutikka Teracotta clay art, Rasabali and Talapatra craft to get GI tag, said C Udayabhaskar,Chief General Manager NABARD, Odisha Regional Office