Uttarakhand CM Releases State Focus Paper 2023-23 Prepared By NABARD

NABARD has estimated a credit potential of Rs 30301 crore in the priority sector for the state of Uttarakhand for the fiscal year 2023-24, which is 6.22 percent higher than the previous year. CM Dhami expressed gratitude to NABARD, saying that a loan scheme of more than thirty thousand crore rupees had been prepared this year for the development of agriculture, horticulture, and small and medium-sized industries in Uttarakhand, which is 6.22 percent more than last year.

"This will prove effective in increasing the livelihood of our farmers, people engaged in horticulture and small-scale industries. This loan system would require proper monitoring and transparency so that needy people do not face any difficulties in obtaining loans," he said. He went on to say that banks play the most important role in making loans easily accessible to the right, needy, and deserving people.

"Banks must ensure that the needy and eligible people do not have to travel unnecessary distances for loan-related formalities. Banks will have to work in mission mode for this. Each bank branch will have to work with a specific target for the allocation of this NABARD loan scheme," he added. According to CM Dhami, rural development and progress are only possible through investment and loans.

"It is also critical to our reverse exodus mission. The government is constantly working to improve basic infrastructure, roads, and connectivity in rural areas. NABARD also provides ongoing assistance in this regard. Last year alone, NABARD approved 4515 projects totaling 10,000 crore rupees for Uttarakhand," he said. He said that special attention should be paid to increasing loan allocation in three loan-deficient districts of Rudraprayag, Bageshwar and Tehri.

The Uttarakhand CM said that apart from banks, the state government is also implementing schemes like subsidy, credit-linked schemes and interest subvention for the common people, under which Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Tourism Self Employment Scheme, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Cooperative Farmer Welfare Scheme, Chief Minister Self Employment Schemes are being implemented. The Uttarakhand CM said that under the leadership of PM Modi, whatever proposals are made by India at the international level, serious decisions are also taken on them.

“India is chairing the G20 summit this year. This is a good opportunity for the country to promote ‘Local for Global’. Two important meetings of G20 are also proposed in Uttarakhand. On India’s proposal, the United Nations General Assembly has also declared the year 2023 as the ‘International Year of Millet’. This will give a rapid boost to our coarse grains.,” he said. He expressed gratitude to PM Modi, for the approval given by the Government of India to purchase Manduva at the minimum support price.

It was informed in the State Credit Seminar organized by NABARD that through 91 Small Entrepreneurship Development Programs and 23 Livelihood Entrepreneurship Development Programs, NABARD has trained 5280 Self Help Groups/JLGs to empower women and create sustainable livelihoods for them. Motivated to do business, NABARD is playing an important role in the formation of FPOs in the state, so far a total of 132 FPOs (including 31 Central Sector Schemes) have been formed, the statement read.