 "Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister")
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that public sector banks will put up shamianas (colourful tents) in 400 districts to provide loans to retail, agriculture and SMEs. The policy was initiated to fight the slowdown but has brought back memories of similar loan melas from 1980s. These melas not just got Indian banks in serious trouble but also created a highly reckless credit culture in India whose effects continue till date.
In 1982, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi appointed Janardhan Poojary as Minister of Finance for state. The PM had nationalised 20 banks but was unhappy with their progress in rural India and
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