Bank defaulters names to be made public

PATNA: The state government has finally conceded the long-felt demand of bankers to take strong measures against defaulters, specially proven "big defaulters", by slapping certificate cases against them and strictly taking follow-up action on them.
Accordingly, bankers in every district would make public the identities of 10 "big defaulters", while the administration would also help the bankers in enforcing the clauses of certificate cases lodged against them.
Bihar deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, who presided the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) meeting held on Thursday as a reorientation programme for the newly-appointed deputy collectors (banking) and district managers of seven lead banks operating in the state, said, "The bankers will first make public the list of 10 big defaulters in every district. Then, the certificate cases lodged against them will be strictly enforced. This will be done to send a strong message to other defaulters to ensure that they make timely repayment of loans."
Such a strong measure has been contemplated against the defaulters as non-performing assets (NPAs) of various banks have been increasing. As on date, the number of such cases in the state has increased to more than three lakh, Modi said.
Earlier, the bankers complained about 47% recovery rate in the state. Finance department secretary (expenditure) Mihir Kumar Singh also suggested that the certificate cases slapped against defaulters be strictly enforced.
The special reorientation programme had been organized as the state government has, for the first time, appointed deputy collectors in all the districts to coordinate with bankers in loaning activities under the Annual Credit Plan (ACP).
The ACP in the state for the current fiscal has been fixed at Rs 43,200 crore. While it was Rs 37,000 crore in the last fiscal, the achievement was to the tune of Rs 25,551 crore. Of the ACP, Rs 21,000 crore has to be given to farmers as agriculture loan for various activities.
Among those who addressed the reorientation programme were finance department principal secretary Rameshwar Singh and SBI chief general manager.