Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) is planning to set up an-ITC style rural information network through touchscreen kiosks linked to a communication and information technology backbone in Maharashtra.
The bank has drawn up plans relating to information technology-enabled investments in rural areas of Maharashtra, chairman and managing director S C Basu said.
BoM will be installing 100 touchscreen-networked, computer-driven, kiosks that will provide commodity prices on a daily basis to farmers at the panchayat level.
The bank has already installed three such computers in rural Maharashtra at a cost of Rs 12 lakh each and the total cost of the project will be around Rs 12 crore. It will be implemented by July.
Out of a total of 800 branches, as many as 600 are rural branches, the BoM chairman pointed out. The rationale behind the investment was to help farmers get better return for their produce.
Better price information will enable farmers to earn more and enhance their living standards. Their status as customers of the bank
