Patna, Jan. 13: Nitish Kumar today extended support to Prime Minister Modi's plea for a cashless economy but added a rider: every panchayat should have a bank branch.
"To make cashless economy successful, there should be a bank branch in every panchayat. If banks cannot find land, we are ready to offer them land to open bank branches in every panchayat," Nitish said at a public meeting as part of his Nischay Yatra in Begusarai district, about 125km east of Patna.
"If you (banks) do not find land for starting a branch, the state government will provide space in panchayat bhavans built in every panchayat of the state for the purpose," the chief minister added.
Bihar finance minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui, while presiding over the last state-level bankers' meet in December last year, had regretted that out of an annual target to open 1,640 new branches by December 15, 2016, only 87 were opened by 35 commercial, rural and cooperative banks. Siddiqui had hinted that the state government might penalise banks by denying government deposits for not opening sufficient branches despite instructions of the Reserve Bank of India to reduce people's hardship on account of demonetisation.
Even at the pre-budget meeting of finance minister held in Delhi, Siddiqui had demanded opening of more bank branches and ATMs.
The Bihar chief minister has been one of the strongest supporters of demonetisation, even risking the anger of his Grand Alliance partners, the RJD and Congress. In turn, Prime Minister Modi endorsed Nitish's prohibition laws, some whose provisions had been described as "Talibani" by the state BJP. The Janata Dal United has said it would review its stand on demonetisation on January 23.
Nitish's support for a cashless economy - a pet theme of the Prime Minister - is bound to trigger fresh speculation over the future political course of the state.
"I do not know about the future of political alignment. But the Centre is already going ahead with revamping the Gandhi Setu. I have come to know that major funds for Bihar under the Backward Regions Grant Fund will be announced shortly. The growing friendship between Nitish and Modi has already resulted in economic benefits," a JDU leader said on the condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
During his speech in Begusarai today, Nitish asserted that all "seven resolves" would be completed before the next Assembly elections due in 2020. He recounted the steps taken by his government for women's empowerment like distribution of cycles, reservation in government jobs and panchayats and local bodies. He also reaffirmed his promise to youths - giving them free wi-fi connection and opening more technical institutes. In Begusarai, an engineering college has already been opened and there was a proposal to open a medical college as well in the district, he said.
The chief minister also hinted that even contractual teachers would get the benefit of revised pay scales as per the recommendations of the 7th Pay commission.
