The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Thanjavur Central Cooperative Bank has planned to organise 100 financial literacy programmes in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts, according to K. Subramanian, District Development Manager of NABARD, Thanjavur.
Speaking at one such meeting at Thanjavur recently, Mr. Subramanian said the programmes were aimed at strengthening financial inclusion by way of creating awareness on facilities such as Rupay debit and credit cards, enrolment in social security schemes, use of Internet and mobile banking or through BHIM App.
The target groups were farmers, students, senior citizens, entrepreneurs, self help group members and people who have been newly inducted into the financial system.
Manoharan, Managing Director, Thanjavur CCB, said cooperative banks, which cater to the banking needs of rural people, would seek to give a push to financial inclusion and digital transactions through their branches in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts. The programmes were conducted by a team of trainers. These trainers had earlier undergone a training of trainers (ToT) programme organised at the State-level by NABARD in Chennai.
Rural people would be given a feel of various options for cashless transactions with the help of mobile van equipped with digital banking technologies. The Thanjavur CCB has decided to take the mobile van to the training locations for creating awareness on digital banking in the rural areas as well, he said.
Agri marketing infrastructure
Meanwhile, progressive farmers and officials of Pudukottai district were given an overview on the Union government’s Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure subsidy scheme at a workshop organised by NABARD in the town recently.
S. Somasundaram, District Development Manager, NABARD, said storage infrastructure such as godowns with the capacity of 50 to 10,000 tonnes and silos up to 15,000 tonnes for government departments and 50 to 5,000 tonnes for all individuals and Farmers Producer Organisations can be established under the subsidy scheme. Besides, common facilities in market yards, infrastructure for direct marketing, mobile infrastructure for post harvest operations, common facility centres for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), mini dhal mills, mini rice or oil mills can be established with 25% to 33.3% back-ended subsidy. The subsidy will be provided to the individuals and FPOs who avail bank loan.
Under the National Livestock Mission, 25% of back-ended subsidy is available for farmers who undertake poultry and goat rearing by availing bank loans. Similarly, agriculture graduates will be provided with subsidy of up to 36% for setting up agri-clinics and agricultural business centres.
He requested officials, progressive farmers and representatives of farmer producer companies to disseminate information about the schemes.
Earlier, Singaram, Deputy Director of Agriculture, (Central scheme), inaugurated the workshop. Rajasekar, Lead Bank Manager, Pudukkottai, and others spoke.

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