Guwahati, April 12 : The country’s banking process and the issues surrounding the banking and micro-finance sectors in Northeast India were discussed threadbare by lenders, finance experts, industry representatives and academicians at a conclave organised by India’s first multi-lingual news agency ted News of India : here on Tuesday. A panel discussion ‘Role of Banking and Microfinance Institute in North Eastern Region’ was organised as part of the Conclave 2022 at NEDFI Convention Centre here in the city. Among those who attended the panel discussions were North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFI) Chairman PVSLN Murthy, State Bank of India General Manager Suranjana Dutta, Deputy General Manager Walter Kujur, Associate Professor of Indian Institute of Banking Management Dr Abhijit Sharma and Adviser to North East Tea Association Bidyananda Borkakoty. The panel discussion was moderated by senior journalist Anirban Roy. Pobitra Margherita, Rajya Sabha Member from Assam was the guest of honour in the conclave. In his inaugural speech, Margherita spoke about the importance of the banking system for the overall development of a state. Participating in the panel discussion, the NEDFI Chairman stressed the need for state-specific schemes to boost the development of the region, SBI General Manager Dutta talked about the vast reach of her bank in the region. She stressed the need for increasing financial literacy among the marginalised and poor people to reap the benefits of financial inclusion. Dutta said that under the central government’s flagship programme Jan Dhan Yojana, nearly 2000 accounts were being opened in the Northeast region on a daily basis. Sharma highlighted the need of including local bodies in the delivery mechanism of the banking service. NABARD DGM Kujur underscored the various initiatives the development bank has undertaken for providing a seamless credit facility to the farmers of the region. The conclave was organised in Northeast for the very first time. Editor in Chief Ajay Kaul in his address said the agency will organise many more such events in other states of the region dwelling on financial inclusion and last mile delivery of development schemes. ABI RKM