RBI chief asks villagers to avail banking facilities

IMPHAL: RBI executive director G Gopalakrishna on Saturday invited the villagers of Charangpat in Manipurs' Thoubal district to open bank accounts and be a part of the banking system and urged them to avail the services offered by different banks.
Thoubal is the home district of chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and has over 13 bank branches. Many more are yet to come up and even ATM booths will be opening up in the district shortly, said a leading bank official.
Addressing an RBI-conducted outreach camp held at Charangpat Maklang, Gopalakrishna said they intended to create awareness about the utilities of banking services among the rural mass through such village outreach programmes.
He warned public not to get lured away by the high rates of interest on deposits offered by unscrupulous elements. While urging the banks for extending their services to the villages, Gopalakrishna advised them that they need not perceive the financial inclusion drive as a compulsion rather they should realize that a tremendous business opportunity exists in the rural sector.
Different banks, NGOs and other government sectors put up stalls. The aim is to attract more and more people who want to exchange big notes for those of lesser denomination and coins from a money exchange outlet. Coins of Re 1, Rs 2, 5 and 10 and notes of Rs 10, 20 and 50 were offered for public exchange in the stall. Other stalls displayed slogans and posters on banking issues.
"I have exchanged notes of higher denomination for small coins of Re 1, Rs 2 and Rs 5 from the stall. I am thankful to RBI for organizing this camp which gives all-round banking facilities and at the same time tells you about the utility of such multifaceted facilities," one of the customers said.