Deputy commissioner Darpan Jain has asked the bank officials to ensure the compensation cheques given by the government to flood victims are cleared without any delay and payment is made to the victims.
Addressing a meeting of bank officers at the ZP meeting hall, he said the government has issued cheques to those who have suffered crop loss and damage to houses. The cheques are to be realised at the banks at the hobli and taluk headquarters. Darpan said the banks should arrange to open zero balance accounts in the name of the beneficiaries and help them realise their cheques.
He also reminded banks that farmers are eligible for loans at a 3 per cent interest rate and crop loan up to Rs 50,000 from the public sector banks and regional rural banks. The short term crop loans availed during the season needs to be converted into medium term loan. He asked bankers to enlighten farmers on this facility and extend the benefit.
Smart cards to farmers
Assistant general manager of Reserve Bank of India Shekhar said the RBI had instructed all banks in the state to issue smart cards to farmers and appealed to farmers to obtain smart cards from the nearby branches of the banks. He said the farmers needed to provide details to the district lead banks before December 31.
He said, the RBI was celebrating its 75th anniversary in Karnataka and as part of the celebration it would conduct quiz competitions for students in association with departments of public instruction and pre-university education.