Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hands over a loan sanction letter to a beneficiary at the Credit Outreach Programme in Madhubani, Bihar, on November 30, 2024.
| Photo Credit: ANI/Nirmala Sitharaman Office X

Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday (November 30, 2024) distributed loans amounting to ₹1,121 crore to 50,294 beneficiaries during the Credit Outreach Programme in Madhubani district of Bihar.

Addressing the gathering at Lalit Karpoori Stadium in Jhanjharpur, Ms. Sitharaman said women would play an important role in achieving the goal of developed India by 2047. She said the government had started the Drone Didi scheme [for self-help groups], which would help in making Lakhpatididis [an SHG member, whose annual household income is more than ₹1 lakh]. “The Prime Minister’s dream is that India’s development should be led by women,” she said.

“Prime Minister Narendra ji says that there should be a Lakhpati didi in every village of the country. For this, the banks are doing whatever work they have to do. Women are being given financial assistance and training through every self-help group. I request everyone to become a part of the schemes launched by the Government of India through the banks and take advantage of them so that everyone can become more capable,” Ms. Sitharaman said.

Varied fields

The schemes under which loan sanction letters were issued include PM MUDRA, PMEGP, Kisan Credit Card (Crop), KCC (Animal Husbandry & Fisheries), Stand Up India, PM-SVANidhi and PM Vishwakarma. Apart from these, loan sanction letters for retail sector, MSMEs, SHGs and farmers were also disbursed.

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) also announced approval of more than ₹155.84 crore and ₹75.52 lakh respectively for various rural road projects.

Various banks sanctioned assistance under their CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities for betterment of infrastructure in schools, specially schools meant for girls. She also flagged off an ambulance and announced various activities under CSR.

M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), and top officials of the State Bank of India detailed the financial inclusion initiatives of banks in the district.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary thanked Ms. Sitharaman for visiting Madhubani for the programme, and specifically mentioned the efforts being made under the Centre’s guidance for the economic development of the area.

During the Credit Outreach Programme, some senior citizens aged 70 and above were provided the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) cards.

She also handed over copies of the Constitution in Maithili and Sanskrit – which were released recently on Samvidhan Divas – to people during the programme. Ms. Sitharaman, along with Mr. Choudhary and JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha, visited around 25 stalls that displayed various local products and handicrafts of entrepreneurs financed by banks.

She visited the Mithila Chitrakala Sansthan in Saurath and interacted with artisans specialising in Mithila paintings and terracotta art.

Before going to the venue, she offered prayers at a temple in Jhanjharpur, Madhubani.