Gandhinagar, August 13: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel urged banks on Thursday to facilitate easy loans and financial assistance for micro and small entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, rural artisans, and small farmers, ensuring that credit reaches the last mile.
While presiding over the 190th meeting of the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) in Gandhinagar, CM Patel emphasized the need for rapid processing of applications under government schemes and maximizing outreach to eligible beneficiaries.
He noted that banks have traditionally been viewed primarily as institutions for lending and financial transactions. However, their role has now expanded to contribute to social development and the vision of a ‘Developed India.’
Patel stated, “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India is on the path to becoming the world’s third-largest economy, and the banking sector plays a crucial role in this journey.”
He urged banks to ensure that all eligible farmers who have yet to benefit from the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme are included. Full coverage of the scheme will help deliver its benefits to the right beneficiaries.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the support and incentives announced for startups, women entrepreneurs, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs, differently-abled entrepreneurs, and first-generation entrepreneurs under Gujarat’s new industrial policy for 2026.
He encouraged banks to leverage technology to provide timely credit, loans, and other financial assistance to applicants.
Chief Secretary M.K. Das stressed the importance of better coordination between the government and the banking sector for Gujarat’s development and progress. He praised the contribution of banks to the state’s growing economy and economic growth rate. Das also advised banks to remain vigilant against cyber fraud and mule accounts.
He called on banks to expand their branch networks to ensure that even the smallest villages have easy access to banking services.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department Dr. T. Natarajan, Bank of Baroda’s Managing Director and CEO Dr. Debadatt Chanda, Regional Director of the Reserve Bank of India Amrish Ranjan, and Director of the Ministry of Finance at the Center, Swagat Bhandari.
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