The 180th State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) meeting was convened today under the co-chairmanship of Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary (DC-cum-ACS) to the Government of Odisha, Smt. Anu Garg, and Managing Director & CEO of UCO Bank, Ashwani Kumar.
The meeting focused on aligning banking strategies with Odisha’s ambitious growth and job creation targets outlined in the state’s Vision 2036 and 2047 documents.
Smt. Anu Garg emphasised the need to improve the Credit to Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) ratio to support Odisha’s economic aspirations. She urged banks to enhance credit flow to critical sectors such as housing, education, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), agriculture, and allied activities. Special attention was given to improving the Credit-Deposit (CD) ratio in underperforming districts to ensure balanced regional development.
To enhance customer engagement, Smt. Garg directed banks to communicate with beneficiaries in the Odia language via SMS, making interactions more accessible and user-friendly. She also stressed the promotion of Central Know Your Customer (CKYC) to improve transparency, reduce duplication, and streamline business processes in the financial ecosystem.
The meeting highlighted flagship schemes such as Cold Storage, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, PMSVANidhi, Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUY), and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) to drive employment generation. Banks were also urged to expand credit support to the education, housing, and export sectors to fuel economic growth.
Ashwani Kumar, MD & CEO of UCO Bank and Chairman of SLBC Odisha, reported that the Annual Credit Plan (ACP) target for 2025-26 is set at ₹2,52,095.66 crore, with banks achieving ₹61,412.76 crore (24.36%) as of June 30, 2025. He emphasised the importance of sustained efforts to meet these targets.
Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra, Principal Secretary of the Finance Department, reiterated the significance of CKYC in enhancing transparency and easing business operations. Dr. Sarada Prasan Mohanty, Regional Director of RBI Bhubaneswar, highlighted Odisha’s leadership in the ongoing Financial Inclusion campaign, noting the state’s top ranking in Re-KYC compliance from July 1 to September 30, 2025. He also stressed the need to combat cyber and digital fraud, including issues related to Money Mule Accounts.
To expand banking access, partner banks (SBI, PNB, UBI, UCO, BOI, BOB) were directed to establish Customer Service Point (CSP) Plus outlets in all remaining unbanked Gram Panchayats by September 30, 2025, and to closely monitor their performance.
The meeting was attended by key officials, including Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment; Suresh Kumar Vashishth, Principal Secretary, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development; and Smt. Usha Padhee, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Mission Shakti, Smt. Shalini Pandit, and Commissioner-cum-Secretary, MSME Department, Prasanth Kumar Reddy. Senior representatives from the State and Central Governments, NABARD, and regional heads of banks also attended, discussing the effective implementation of credit-linked schemes.
The 180th SLBC meeting underscored Odisha’s commitment to financial inclusion, regional development, and economic empowerment, setting the stage for achieving the state’s long-term vision.
