GUWAHATI, Jan 7 � Having a lower banking penetration in comparison to the national average, Assam and other north-eastern States also have a very meagre Credit Deposit Ratio (CDR) compared to other regions of the country.
Expressing grave concern over the banking performance of the region, the United Forum of RBI Officers and Employees has urged the Chief Ministers of all the NE States and also the Reserve Bank of India to take initiatives for improving the situation.
It also asked the RBI to open more full-fledged branches in the NE States and upgrade the existing branches to monitor the banking activities of the region and create more employment.
The CDR of northern and western regions is around 83 percent. In central region it is approximately 51 per cent and in Southern region, it is 93.8 per cent. Whereas at the national average, there is one bank against a population figure of 14,000, in NE, the ration is 1:20,000.
Demanding appropriate measures and steps by the Government of NE States, and the RBI to increase the CDR in the region, which is 34 per cent against the national average of 74 per cent, central convener of the forum Samir Ghosh today said that this situation is aggravating the regional imbalance and fund generated in the region is shifting to other developed areas of the country.
Also raising the matter of fake financial institutions mushrooming in the region, Ghosh said that in the absence of adequate bank branches and awareness about banking among the common people.