JAMMU, FEB 3: Chief Secretary (CS) Atal Dulloo has directed the development of a grievance portal to address challenges faced by individuals in securing credit from financial institutions for business ventures and self-employment on Monday.
Chairing a meeting attended by senior officials, including the Principal Secretary of Finance, Commissioner Secretary of Industries & Commerce, and representatives from various banks, Dulloo emphasized the importance of seamless credit linkage for aspiring entrepreneurs. He urged financial institutions to simplify procedures and ensure efficient grievance redressal through a portal involving government machinery and bank nodal officers.
Assessing the saturation level of social security and financial inclusion schemes across Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Secretary reviewed the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and Atal Pension Yojana. He directed financial institutions to extend these benefits to all eligible citizens and explore mechanisms to link death records with beneficiary accounts for direct disbursement of death benefits.
Dulloo urged Deputy Commissioners to enhance the distribution of Rupay Debit Cards and Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) through IT-driven outreach programs. He also called for customized loan products for Self-Help Group (SHG) members, aiming to support 30 lakh individuals, and advocated for the inclusion of construction workers under the Atal Pension Yojana.
Stressing financial inclusion and digital transactions, the Chief Secretary instructed for Business Correspondents to be deployed in all panchayats and encouraged leveraging data from the Mission YUVA survey covering 5.5 lakh youth. Reviewing priority sector lending, he noted the need to enhance credit in agriculture and improve term loan performance.
The meeting was informed that as of December 2024, digital banking coverage in J&K stands at 99.80%, with 1.28 crore accounts on digital platforms and a remaining gap of just 25,472 accounts. The UTLBC, in coordination with PFRDA, is actively conducting awareness programs to ensure maximum enrollment under financial inclusion schemes.
