Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has urged the Centre to advise banks to open their branches in unbanked gram panchayats in Odisha.

The Chief Minister made this request while attending the 27th meeting of Eastern Zonal Council in Ranchi today.

In his speech, the Chief Minister also urged the Centre to take the necessary steps to address internet connectivity issues to encourage banks to open their brick and mortar (B&M) branches in unbanked gram panchayats in the state.

Besides, Majhi sought hike in the fixed component of commission along with variable commission to business correspondent to check their attrition rate.

Out of 6,794 gram panchayats in Odisha, only 2,421 have brick & mortar branches. The remaining 4,373 gram panchayat do not have any brick & mortar branch.

In order to meet the banking needs in unbanked/under banked gram panchayats, the state government in collaboration with six Public Sector Banks has launched a scheme for providing banking services to all unbanked GPs of the state through CSP Plus banking outlets. Odisha is the only state in the country to adopt such unique model of financial inclusion, said the Chief Minister.

The CSP Plus banking outlets are providing major banking services just like a brick & mortar branch. So far, 2,742 CSP Plus outlets have been opened in 2,742 unbanked gram panchayats covering all 30 districts. The remaining 1,631 unbanked gram panchayats will be covered by CSP plus outlets shortly, he added.

“State government is making necessary arrangement for providing electricity connection and internet connectivity for smooth functioning of the CSP Plus banking outlets in all unbanked gram panchayats of the state. The state government is also bearing the one-time fixed cost component including banking space and monthly recurring cost for specified items for first three years since opening of CSP Plus outlets,” stated the Chief Minister.

Majhi pleaded for inclusive growth, regional solidarity and welfare of people to achieve the goal of Vikasit Bharat.

According to him, the basic objective of the zonal councils comprising of the states belonging to a particular region is to create healthy inter-state and center-state relation, foster cooperation and to discuss matters common to them and the central government so as to solve inter-state problems and promote balanced socio-economic development.

“Odisha along with the other states of this zone - West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand- shares not only geographical boundaries, but also intertwined histories, cultures, economies and challenges.Our collective progress, therefore, hinges on how well we collaborate and support each other through this Council. I am hopeful that the meeting will provide a useful and an open forum for consultations on such matters of our zone and to strengthen the Centre-state relations,” Majhi said.