ZCF demands more bank branches in Tamenglong
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 27 2013 : Observing that there is an almost dysfunctional single branch of United Bank of India at the district HQs of Tamenglong district, Zeliangrong Citizen Forum (ZCF) has urged the authorities concerned to open a branch of State Bank of India in Tamenglong headquarters.

According to a press release of ZCF, Imphal Valley of Manipur has the maximum full-fledged bank branches to cater to the financial services needs of the urban and semi-urban population.

All other hills districts of the State have minimum two to three full-fledged bank branches at the district headquarters.

As per RBI Guidelines, 2010, banks do not need to seek the Reserve Bank of India's nod anymore to open branches in smaller towns and large villages.

The RBI has also permitted private and public sector banks to open branches in rural, semi-urban and urban centres in north eastern States and Sikkim without its approval, the release added.

"While the Central Government and the RBI are talking of Bank branches expansions to rural areas, RRBs, Business Correspondence (BC) Model, EBT, White level ATMs, Financial Inclusion mainly to cater to the financial services needs of the rural India, what id preventing the State Government of Manipur from taking the step forward along with the willing Private and Public Sector bank(s) especially the SBI in creating an infrastructure and opening a full-faced bank branch(s) and an ATM in Tamenglong HQs is a question one only needs to ponder" .

It stated, the only UBI branch in Tamenglong Hqs cannot meet the demand and needs of customers of the area, and the only SBI is located in Longmai, inside the Assam Rifle camp.

Security issue may be ruled out as one of the reasons preventing the State machinery to give a go ahead in Tamenglong as the security condition is as non-challenging as any other hill districts of Manipur.

In fact, as far as security issues are concerned, maximum number of bank branches are concentrated in Imphal though there are more than 30 UG Groups operative in Imphal Valley alone, the release read.

"The market (potential customers) challenge may also be ruled out as Tamenglong district is not far behind any other hill districts in population as per 2001 and 2011 census reports" .

It also read, "The State Government needs to wake up from its inertia and do the long pending justice to the people of Tamenglong district in this regard.

People of the region cannot even start a small savings because of the prevailing situation" .

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