117/2022-2023

Aizawl, the 12th July 2022: As the Chief Guest, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati graced the function of 41st Foundation Day of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) held at the Auditorium of Mizoram Rural Bank in Aizawl this afternoon. Health Minister Dr R.Lalthangliana was the Guest of Honour. The event was organised by Mizoram Regional Office, NABARD.

Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati congratulated NABARD for completing its successful existence of four decades and he highlighted some of its achievements.  He thanked NABARD for its financial support to the State Government for the creation of rural infrastructures through which the state received financial assistance of over Rs.1900 crore. In this connection, Governor advised the speeding up of the pace of implementation of the projects at the ground level since he felt that it has not been up to the mark. He shared his appreciation of NABARD in supplementing the efforts of Mizoram Rural Bank (MRB) and the Mizoram Cooperative Apex Bank (MCAB) by extending refinance to enable them to lend more to agriculture and other rural sectors. He felt that NABARD is playing an important catalytic role in encouraging the banks and other stakeholders. He also acknowledged several important interventions and implementations made by NABARD for the development of Agriculture and Rural areas in the state. However, he urged NABARD officials that there is still room for improvement.

Governor was pleased to felicitate the three (3) major banks - Mizoram Rural Bank, Mizoram Cooperative Apex Bank and State Bank of India - which contributed most to the priority sector lending in the State. On reminding the other Banks of their responsibilities to their customers, he said, “I expect other banks to also step up their efforts to increase their credit footprint in the State. I am of the strong view that much more can be done in the State”.

Governor speech :  https://dipr.mizoram.gov.in/post/speech-of-dr-hari-babu-kambhampati-honble-governor-of-mizoram-on-the-occasion-of-41st-foundation-day-of-nabard-on-12th-july-2022

Dr.R.Lalthangliana began his address by congratulating NABARD for their important milestone and for playing a catalyst role in taking rural India forward. He stressed how closely the state government and NABARD are partnered and working together for fostering rural prosperity in Mizoram. He particularly emphasised the importance of RIDF which created a long-term partnership between NABARD and State Governments and said the same has strengthened over more than two decades. He highlighted how RIDF has touched the lives of the rural people through creation of various infrastructure projects sanctioned to the Government of Mizoram. He also emphasised the importance of the development of social sector infrastructures such as health infrastructure, rural drinking water supply, school infrastructure, etc. for overall development of the state. 

In this function, Prof KRS Sambasiva Rao, Vice Chancellor, Mizoram University presented a paper on"Issues in development of Agriculture in Mizoram". He highlighted the challenges and also presented the ways and means to overcome these challenges.

The function commenced with a welcome address from Shri KVSSLV Prasada Rao, GM, NABARD. This was followed by an address from the chief guest, the guest of honour and Prof KRS Sambasiva Rao, Vice Chancellor, Mizoram University. In this function, Governor released a “ Snapshot of NABARD’s initiatives in Mizoram”. He handed over Micro ATM to Mizoram Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd, keys of Mobile Van to Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and also handed over cheque to JLGs financed by Mizoram Rural Bank. Dr R.Lalthangliana, Health Minister handed over the sanction Letter-Financial Assistance for the conduct of Financial Literacy Programmes by Banks. There were also felicitations of Bankers for the financing of priority sector in the state and Partner Agencies. The function concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Shri T Guite, DGM, NABARD.