PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Governor lieutenant general (retd) Gurmit Singh inaugurated four new branches of Uttarakhand Gramin Bank on Saturday. The governor inaugurated the Krishali Chowk branch located on Sahastradhara road in Dehradun and virtually inaugurated Chamiyala branch of Tehri, Lalpur Nayak branch of Nainital and Naugaonkhal branch of Pauri district on the occasion.
In his address, the governor said that banks are not just a means of transaction, but a vehicle of development and trust. He added that banks safeguard society’s hard-earned money and reinvest it in production and progress. Rural banks are playing a vital role in strengthening the rural economy and connecting people to banking services.
The governor praised the achievements of the Uttarakhand Gramin Bank and said that the bank is laying a strong foundation for rural development, women empowerment, and promoting self-reliance. He said that about 20 per cent of the State’s population is benefiting from the Gramin Bank’s services. The governor particularly praised the bank’s efforts to support self-help groups and promote green energy. He expressed confidence that the bank will continue to work with innovation and service to bring prosperity to the lives of the State’s citizens.
The governor said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, many changes have taken place in the field of financial inclusion. The Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar, mobile banking, and digital transactions have transformed the economic landscape. He said that India is today the fourth largest economy in the world and is poised to become the third largest soon, with banking and digital payment systems playing a major role in this.
The chief general manager of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Pankaj Yadav, regional director of Reserve Bank of India Arvind Kumar, chairman UGB Hari Har Patnaik and others attended the programme.
