Provide services in all villages, banks told

Speaking at the 119th SLBC meeting, Seth, who is also the chairman and managing director of Syndicate Bank, said as in October this year, banking services had been provided to 2,639 villages out of 3,395 unbanked villages identified in the population group of over 2,000. He said banks under the agriculture sector, through Rapid Action Plan and Special Campaign mode, have disbursed Rs 15,610 crore up to September 2011, against the annual target of Rs 31,308 crore, recording an achievement level of 50 per cent.

He said the Centre would launch another special campaign from December 1 to 15 for lending to eligible borrowers in rural areas. Chief Secretary S V Ranganath and RBI Regional Director Uma Shankar were present.