In Order to extend the reach of banking to the rural hinterland, government advised banks to provide appropriate banking facilities to habitations having a population in excess of 2000 by March, 2012, using the Business Correspondent (BC) and other models, with appropriate technology back up.
Approximately 73,000 such habitations across the country have been identified and allocated to Public Sector Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Private Sector Banks, and Cooperative Banks for extending banking services by March, 2012. As per reports received from Banks 29,569 villages have been covered as on 31.3.2011.
Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena in a written reply to a Question in Rajya Sabha said on Tuesday that government conducts periodical meetings with banks to assess the progress made.