Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday chaired the 190th meeting of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) in Gandhinagar and called upon the banking sector to play a greater role in ensuring credit reaches the last mile.
Addressing the meeting, Patel said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is moving towards becoming the world’s third-largest economic power, and the banking sector will have a crucial role in supporting this growth.
The Chief Minister urged banks to make credit easily accessible to people at the grassroots, particularly MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, rural artisans and small farmers. He also stressed the need to leverage technology to ensure timely access to loans and other financial services.
Patel called for greater support for start-ups, women entrepreneurs, SC/ST entrepreneurs, persons with disabilities and first-generation entrepreneurs, enabling them to overcome financial barriers and expand their businesses.
He emphasised that strengthening last-mile credit delivery would contribute to inclusive economic growth and ensure that the benefits of Gujarat’s and the country’s economic progress reach all sections of society.
The SLBC meeting reviewed key banking and financial priorities for the state, with a focus on improving access to institutional credit and supporting entrepreneurship and inclusive development.
