DC Ganderbal directs banks to step up lending, KCC coverage

Ganderbal, Feb 26: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Jatin Kishore, today chaired a meeting of the District Level Review Committee and District Consultative Committee (DLRC/DCC) to review the performance of banks and line departments for the quarter ending December 2025 and to assess progress under the Annual Credit Plan (ACP).

At the outset, the Lead District Manager, Ganderbal, presented a comprehensive report highlighting bank-wise performance across key indicators, including deposits, advances and the Credit Deposit Ratio (CDR). The meeting was informed that the district’s overall CD ratio stood at 95.29 per cent, registering an improvement from 92.75 per cent recorded earlier.

While appreciating the upward trend in the CD ratio, the DC expressed concern over the poor performance of certain banks and directed them to immediately enhance credit flow to achieve district benchmarks. He stressed that banks must actively increase lending, particularly in priority sectors, to support economic growth at the grassroots level.

The DC laid special emphasis on strengthening credit support to the agriculture sector and allied activities to meet the financial needs of farmers. He instructed banks to improve their credit dispensation mechanisms and work in close coordination with line departments to ensure timely and effective implementation of schemes.

He also directed banks and concerned departments to ensure time-bound disposal of pending cases under various flagship schemes, including PMFME, PM Surya Ghar and Mission YUVA, so that intended beneficiaries are not deprived of financial assistance.

Issuing a stern directive, the DC asked all banks—especially those other than J&K Bank—to maximise outreach and actively participate in the implementation of government-sponsored schemes. He underlined that responsibility for schemes such as PMEGP and the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) must be shared by all financial institutions to ensure wider public access to institutional credit.

Agriculture and allied departments, in coordination with banks, were directed to ensure maximum coverage under the KCC scheme. The DC stressed that focused efforts should be made to bring all eligible farmers under the scheme to strengthen agricultural credit penetration in the district.

Highlighting the importance of awareness and outreach, the DC instructed that information about government welfare and credit-linked schemes should be integrated into routine departmental programmes, with officials taking personal responsibility for mobilising beneficiaries.

The meeting also reviewed the performance of banks under various Social Security Schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY). In this regard, banks and line departments were directed to work in close coordination to ensure 100 per cent coverage of all eligible beneficiaries.

The meeting was attended by Additional District Development Commissioner Manzoor Ahmad, the Chief Planning Officer, senior officers of the district administration, and representatives from the Reserve Bank of India, NABARD, various banks and line departments.