Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 16:

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to direct Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to review its decision of not allowing District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCB) to exchange demonetized notes.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik

"I would request your goodself to personally intervene in the matter and direct the RBI to review its decision on withdrawal of facilities from the DCCBs and allow them to take part in the implementation of the scheme," Patnaik wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister while reiterating that his government stands committed to every anti- corruption measure that benefits common man.

The Chief Minister also spoke to the Prime Minister over phone and drew his attention to the plight of the farmers following demonetization of higher denomination currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000.

It may be noted here that the RBI has prohibited DCCBS from exchanging demonetised notes.

In his letter, Patnaik said that 44 lakh farmer families have taken agricultural loans from Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) affiliated to DCCBs and the ban imposed by the RBI on DCCBs would severely affect paddy procurement in the state this being the harvesting season. The PACS have been catering to the needs of these families under Kisan Credit Card Scheme.