SBI scheme woos women vendors
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 29 2009: For the first time in Manipur, State Bank of India (SBI) in collaboration with the Drishtee Foundation has launched the SBI Tiny Card Account from today.

The inaugural function of launching the SBI Tiny Card Account which aims to target women vendors in Khwairamband Bazar was held at Wahengbam Makha Leikai Mandop.

The function was attended by DGM of SBI Local Head Office, Guwahati Tilok Das as chairperson; AGM of Region-V, Dhankheti (Shillong) RK Borkakoty as chief guest and AGM of SBI Imphal Benu Hazarika, SBI Channel Manager RK Babusana, MFMO of SBI Local Head Office, Guwahati Chanchan, Managing Director of UNACCO N Irabanta and Senior Executive of Dhristee Foundation TS Khuman as the guests of honour.

SBI officials at the inauguration of the SBI Tiny Card Account scheme

Speaking at the occasion, Tilok Das noted that 70 percent of the population in the country have been benefited from various schemes of SBI.

However, the same benefits could not be reached out to the remaining 30 percent mostly settled in far flung areas where there is the problem of road and communication.

In order to fill-up this gap, SBI has joined hands with NGOs in launching the SBI Tiny Card Accounts for the first time in Manipur on trial basis, he said, while assuring that this would be beneficial to not only the petty traders but would also look after difficulties of those who wish to open their accounts in the bank but could not do so due to various reasons.

The SBI Tiny Card Account is to be implemented for the first time in Manipur at Ima Keithel of Khwairamband Bazar and it would be made operational through the medium of business correspondence, he informed, adding that customers who have opened their accounts may also deposit or withdraw their money from the bank through these business correspondents.

All the account holders may also apply for loan of every kinds being offered by the SBI, he added.

While admitting that the existing six ATM centres of SBI in the State is not being able to cater to the need of the customers which has grown over the years, Tilok announced that SBI is planning to open 20 more ATM centres in different parts of the State during the current month.

Chief guest of the function RK Borkakoty explained that in the Smart card technology employed by the SBI, all the necessary datas of the customers including their profiles, photographs, biometrics datas and details of the transaction are fed in a micro chip and the cards would be connected to the network of the respective banks.

With the help of these cards, transaction would be made easier for the customers.