report of the working group on improvement of banking services

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8. Banks and NABARD can contribute in <strong>the</strong> areas <strong>of</strong> capacity building by organising training programmes and
setting up <strong>of</strong> RUDSETI model <strong>of</strong> training institutes for promoting self employment opportunities. The RUDSETI
model can be extended to <strong>the</strong> islands to facilitate self-employment, to nurture self-confidence in <strong>the</strong> youth and
to build capacity through better resource utilization and transfer <strong>of</strong> appropriate technology. Syndicate Bank,
having larger presence in <strong>the</strong> islands, should take necessary initiative in this regard.
9. The DRI advances are just Rs.8,000. Banks and Industries Department have to take initiatives to organize
awareness programme on PMRY which will encourage unemployed youth/women to start new business
enterprises.
10. Department <strong>of</strong> Agriculture has to identify all <strong>the</strong> eligible farmers as well as <strong>the</strong> farmers who have not been
issued KCCs and furnish <strong>the</strong> list <strong>of</strong> such farmers to banks so as to cover all eligible farmers under KCCs.
11. Since a lot <strong>of</strong> development is required to be done in <strong>the</strong> infrastructure area in <strong>the</strong> islands, <strong>the</strong> administration
may initiate plans for availing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> funds available with NABARD under RIDF Scheme. Awareness about <strong>the</strong>
scheme is required to be created for <strong>the</strong> knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> administration's <strong>of</strong>ficials. NABARD could adopt a
more focussed approach for <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> infrastructure in <strong>the</strong> islands.
12. Bankers may initiate proactive steps for providing adequate <strong>working</strong> capital for <strong>the</strong> traditional fishermen
engaged in <strong>the</strong> Skipjack-Masmin sector to free <strong>the</strong>m from dependence <strong>of</strong> middlemen.
13. The lead bank may ensure that <strong>the</strong> UTLBC meetings and o<strong>the</strong>r developmental meetings are held at regular
intervals, i.e. at least half-yearly intervals. It may also be ensured that all <strong>the</strong> agenda items are discussed in
detail as per <strong>the</strong> standard instructions on <strong>the</strong> conduct <strong>of</strong> UTLBC meetings.
14. The banks and <strong>the</strong> UTL administration have to jointly make earnest efforts on improving <strong>the</strong> CD Ratio
through greater exploitation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> potential in <strong>the</strong> fishing, agriculture and tourism sectors, going up <strong>the</strong> value
chain and improving <strong>the</strong> entrepreneurial technique and management skills <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> island population.
15. Given <strong>the</strong> constraints in transport <strong>of</strong> cash and coins, air lifting <strong>of</strong> currency and coins may be considered
once all <strong>the</strong> islands are connected through helicopter services.
16. SIDBI, whose regional <strong>of</strong>fice is in Kochi, may explore <strong>the</strong> feasibility <strong>of</strong> adopting a focussed approach for
expanding <strong>the</strong> outreach and penetration <strong>of</strong> credit services for development <strong>of</strong> environment friendly industries.