The National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development(Nabard) is looking at achieving a total target of Rs 485 crore in 2008-09 in West Bengal in refinancing.
On the sidelines of a seminar organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry(BNCCI) at the 22nd Industrial India TradeIITF) fair, A Lahiri, general manager of NABARD, said, "We are looking at achieving a total target of Rs 485 crore in 2008-09 in our refinance sector in West Bengal which is an important parameter for us." Out of the total targeted amount of Rs 485 crore, approximately Rs 40 crore is in core financing, informed Lahiri.
Approximately Rs 458 crore has been achieved out of the total targeted amount, as on December, 2008, added Lahiri.
An amount of Rs 521 crore had been achieved last year, as against a targeted amount of Rs 505 crore. Generally the trend is towards the non farm sector lending, informed Lahiri.
Nabard has always taken initiatives for the micro, small and medium enterprises(MSMEs), however the expected level of credit flow, might not have been felt due to the meltdown, since footlfalls in almost every sector has been hit, admitted Lahiri.
It had also taken up various programmes like 22 entrepreneurship programmes this year as against a cumulative figure of 123 projects so far in various parts of the state for helping the MSME.
Another 95 skill development programmes had been initiated as against a cumulative figure of 233 projects where important training imparting sessions are held for honing the skills of small and medium entrepreneurs, added Lahiri. It has also provided a sum of Rs 8.32 lakh to about 22 self help groups(SHGs) to promote the handloom cluster in Kalna, further added Lahiri.
This part, it had also initiated intensive tourism in the Shantiniketan area for development of the handicraft cluster in that sector. Nabard has also significantly focussed upon credit link capacity implementation subsidy scheme, for which it has already provided a sum of Rs 50 lakh subsidy against a capital outlay of Rs 1 crore, in the state to various small and medium enterprises.