Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Rakesh Kumar directed banking institutions on Thursday to maximize financial assistance for weaker sections to drive socio-economic growth.

Presiding over a quarterly review meeting at Bachat Bhawan, Kumar instructed banks to eliminate pendency in welfare scheme applications. He specifically identified education, agriculture, MSMEs, and weaker sections as high-priority areas that require immediate credit support to meet government targets.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner emphasized that these financial programs serve as essential tools for poverty alleviation. He urged bank officials to view the support of the needy as a core social responsibility, noting that financial independence allows citizens to live with dignity.

Data presented during the meeting revealed that banks in the district have already disbursed Rs 77,419 crore to priority sectors. This includes significant allocations of Rs 35,189 crore for MSMEs and Rs 4,912 crore for the agricultural sector.

Further breakdown of the credit advances showed that weaker sections received Rs 3,397 crore, while housing and crop loans accounted for Rs 298 crore and Rs 2,002 crore, respectively. An additional Rs 526 crore supported various other priority categories.

The meeting also served as a progress check for several high-profile initiatives, including the PM Vishwakarma Yojana and the PM SVANidhi scheme for street vendors. Officials reviewed the performance of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and projects sponsored by NABARD alongside dairy and fisheries departments.

To ensure these benefits reach the intended population, Kumar ordered officials to launch awareness campaigns across the district. He stressed that increased outreach is necessary to bridge the gap between financial institutions and the underprivileged.

Key attendees included Harbans Lal Bhatia, Lead District Officer from the RBI, and Gurdeep Singh Kang, Lead District Manager, along with various departmental heads.