Odisha SLBC Charts Inclusive Credit Roadmap, Focus on Women & Rural Outreach

Bhubaneswar: The 183rd State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) meeting in Odisha emphasised inclusive credit strategies to align with the state’s Vision Document.

The roadmap prioritises tourism, agri‑entrepreneurship, deep-sea fishing, and food processing, while expanding focus on the service sector.

Officials highlighted the need to transform Odisha’s investment climate from “Red Tape to Red Carpet,” ensuring ease of doing business and enterprise growth.

Women entrepreneurship was a key theme, with calls to support the transition from Self‑Help Groups (SHGs) to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The Reserve Bank of India urged banks to strengthen rural outreach and improve the Credit‑Deposit (CD) ratio to match national averages.

The Finance Department stressed full adoption of Central KYC (CKYC) norms to enhance compliance.

Collaboration among banks, Lead District Managers, and district administrations was underscored to meet financial year targets.

The meeting also recognised top‑performing banks and districts for their contributions to inclusive growth.