JAMMU, NOVEMBER 23: On the 2nd day of her visit to Jammu & Kashmir, Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman along with Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today attended the Credit Outreach programme and other events organized by Banker’s Committee of the J&K UT held at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium Complex, University of Jammu.

On the occasion, the Union Finance Minister handed over sanction letters amounting to Rs. 306 crores to 145 beneficiaries of different banks and credit linked schemes like Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), MUDRA Scheme, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Joint-Liability Groups (JLGs) etc.

In her address, the Union Finance Minister reiterated Government of India’s commitment to develop the banking sector and extend banking facilities in the UT. "I will ensure that more bank activities take place in J&K and more Public Sector Banks come here in all the districts so that every person has access to banking facilities”, said the Finance Minister.

"Projects that have been waiting a long time are getting rapidly implemented, sections of society that have never had any assistance from the government are getting it and genuine businesses are also being provided credit”, she added.

Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor highlighted the vital role of Credit outreach programmes and Smart Lending in enabling the government policies to reach all sections of the society. My sincere gratitude to the Hon'ble Finance Minister for the mega Credit Outreach campaign in all the districts which will give impetus to the economic activities and ensure that credit is easily accessible to the needy, said the Lt Governor.

The occasion witnessed the inauguration of various projects by the Union Finance Minister including three J&K Bank branches in Reasi district. Under the aegis of NABARD, registration certificates to 5 FPOs and sanction letter of rural mart to Asha SHG were also handed over.

Earlier, the Finance Minister and the Lt Governor visited stalls put up by beneficiaries from J&K Bank, SBI, PNB, J&K Grameen Bank and NABARD, among others. They interacted with the beneficiaries and enquired about the transformative effect the bank credit has made in their entrepreneurial journey.

The Finance Minister also evinced keen interest in the products made by the entrepreneurs.