Under a comprehensive Financial Inclusion Plan, the  Himachal Pradesh government proposes to open about 800 new bank branches in rural belts and remote corners of the State by 2016. The State Chief Secretary Sudripta Roy said banks will provide fresh loans amounting to Rs 11,548 crore during the current financial year in Himachal Pradesh. In the last financial year, a record number of 31 new branches were opened during the last quarter till March, 2013 out of which 25 were located in rural areas, he said at the 128th State level Bankers Committee meeting in Shimla.    

Sudripta Roy said the state has a strong network of 1,666 bank branches and 861 ATMs, he added. Under the implementation of Annual Credit Plan, 2012-13, the banks had provided fresh loans amounting to Rs 8,824 crore during last fiscal and proposed to lend Rs 11,548 crore in the current financial year, he said. He said that Rural Development Department had finalised five blocks-- Nurpur, Sadar Mandi, Kandaghat, Basantpur and Haroli-- for implementation of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in the State on pilot basis.    

The Chief Secretary reviewed the implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in six districts of the State and said more new schemes would be included under the programme. He called for joint action for successful implementation of Aadhar scheme.