DC Calls on Banks to Boost Awareness of Government Schemes

Shimla, September 24: Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap directed banks to strengthen public awareness about banking services and government welfare schemes during a meeting of the District Level Consultative Committee held at Bachat Bhawan on Thursday.

Reviewing banking services, credit disbursement, priority-sector lending and non-performing assets (NPAs), Kashyap said many people in rural areas remained unaware of available banking facilities and government schemes. He urged banks to undertake effective awareness activities to ensure eligible beneficiaries could access these services.

As of June 30, 2026, the district had 1,95,161 accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, with deposits of Rs 129.87 crore in non-zero-balance accounts. Banks had issued 1,31,634 RuPay cards, of which 75,245 were active.

The district’s credit-deposit ratio improved from 47.93 per cent in March to 48.98 per cent in June. Bank advances rose 0.54 per cent to Rs 21,633.83 crore, while priority-sector advances increased 4.45 per cent to Rs 13,234.02 crore. Agricultural advances grew 5.30 per cent to Rs 4,478.49 crore, while MSME advances rose 10.93 per cent to Rs 3,510.07 crore.

The meeting also reviewed NPAs and progress under schemes including PMMY, PMFME, PMJJBY, PMSBY and Atal Pension Yojana. Kashyap directed banks to make services more accessible and ensure timely delivery of credit and other facilities to eligible beneficiaries.

Samagra Sikhsha