SILCHAR, June 22 - The Assam Gramin Vikas Bank launched its first all-woman operated branch on Vivekananda Road here on Wednesday. According to Shio Shankar Singh, chairman of the bank, �this is the first all-woman operated branch of the bank in the State.� Also it is the 414th branch of the bank in the State and 22nd branch in Cachar district, Singh said.
�We are happy to launch the all-woman branch of the bank which is the largest bank in the State in terms of operation. The bank is totally dedicated towards the inclusive growth of the State. The bank is a joint undertaking of the Government of India which has 50 per cent share followed by United Bank of India with 35 per cent share and 15 per cent share of Assam Government,� Singh said adding that the branch will be headed by Sumana Dasgupta and the officers will extend all possible help to its esteemed customers. The bank aims to cooperate and cover the needs of the small farmers in the rural areas, students and self help groups. The bank has been rated as the top bank in creating self help groups in the country this year by NABARD, Singh claimed.
Addressing the gathering, Cachar Deputy Commissioner S Vishwanathan said �there are 18 lakh people living in the district and this type of bank must make efforts to have accounts for each person in the district which will usher in development and reduce the foul businesses.� He urged the authorities of the bank to tap the tea garden community and also open branches in far flung like Jirighat in Lakhipur sub-division of the district where there is no branch of the bank as yet.
Sarifuzzaman Laskar, one of the directors of the bank expressed his happiness saying that India boasts of its democracy and strong economic base. However, he said that the financial institutions have not been able to reach out to the people living in the remote villages and rural areas and middleman and cheaters are taking this gap to their advantage to dupe poor people.
Niharendra Narayan Tagore, chairman of Silchar Municipal Board and also the commissioner of the municipal ward number 25 urged the bank officials to extend friendly behaviour towards the customers which will lessen their confusions regarding the various government schemes on offer. JJ Bhattacharjee, lead district manager from United Bank of India also spoke on the various schemes launched by the government for the benefit of the people. Rukan Uddin Ahmed, regional manager of the bank gave the welcome address and Ramakrishna Sharma, chief manager from the bank�s head office at Guwahati delivered the vote of thanks.
