'Promote Kannada as language of communication'

MP asks banks to identify business opportunities for SHGs

Mysore and Kodagu MP Prathap Simha said it was essential for the banks to promote Kannada as a language of communication in their day to day affairs.

Addressing the quarterly meeting of District Lead Banks at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium here on Thursday, Simha stressed on the need to use Kannada as language of communication, in order to gain the trust and confidence of the locals.

Following the suggestion, a bank officer hinted at the need to change the recruitment system at banks, as most of the officers are selected through entrance exams, wherein a majority of them will be non-Kannada speaking employees. Earlier, bank employees were recruited through campus interviews, he said.

The official further explained that recruitment of non-Kannada officials had created some kind of a road block in the process of communication between farmers and bank officials.

Campus recruitment

In his reply, the MP promised to initiate steps to resolve the matter with the Central government, if the banking institutions submitted a written proposal seeking recruitment of banking officials via campus interviews again.

Stating that Self Help Groups should be encouraged to start small entrepreneurial ventures, Simha said banks should go beyond just providing them with loans, identify potential business opportunities, and encourage small ventures.

He directed the agriculture officer to apprise senior officials about the necessity to extend the last date for the farmers to avail crop insurance to June 30.