Tripura Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha chaired the 152nd SLBC meeting, reviewing banking performance, flagship schemes, and financial inclusion targets. Officials discussed crop loans, MSME disbursements, and the Jansuraksha Campaign, while RBI flagged re-KYC concerns.
The 152nd State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) meeting for Tripura was convened on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha. The meeting reviewed the performance of the banking sector in the state, with a focus on progress under flagship government schemes, disbursement patterns, and efforts to enhance financial inclusion.
The Chief Secretary, while addressing senior officials, bankers, and representatives of regulatory institutions, underscored the critical role of banks in implementing flagship welfare schemes such as the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), PM Vishwakarma, PM Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), PM Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and the Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
Emphasis on Jansuraksha Campaign
Sinha stressed that all line departments and banks must intensify awareness efforts regarding PMJJBY and PMSBY so that maximum eligible individuals are covered under these social security initiatives. With the state targeting a three-month Jansuraksha Campaign, the Chief Secretary urged bankers to surpass the enrollment benchmarks and ensure that the benefits of these low-cost insurance schemes reach the grassroots.
He further directed banks to proactively issue electronic Bank Guarantees (eBGs) through the National e-Governance Services Limited (NeSL), calling it an essential step toward greater efficiency, transparency, and accountability in financial operations.
Progress and Challenges Highlighted
During the meeting, Apruba Roy, Secretary, Finance & Agriculture, expressed satisfaction over the overall progress made under the Annual Credit Plan (ACP) 2025-26, noting that the state had achieved 27% of its annual target between April and June 2025. However, Roy raised concerns about the low disbursement of crop loans and the Credit-Deposit (CD) ratio, which stood at 50% as of June 30, 2025. He emphasized the need for enhanced lending support to the agricultural sector, especially small and marginal farmers.
Similarly, Deepa Nair, Secretary, ARDD & Fisheries, lauded the banks’ performance in issuing Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs) under the Animal Resource Development Department (ARDD) and Fisheries sector. She, however, urged banks to intensify efforts in financing projects under the National Livestock Mission, which plays a vital role in boosting rural livelihoods and sustainable growth in the animal husbandry sector.
Banking Performance in Q1 FY 2025-26
Providing a detailed account of banking sector performance, Kausik Chattopadhyay, General Manager, Convener Bank (Punjab National Bank), shared that during the first quarter of FY 2025-26, banks in Tripura had disbursed:
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₹814 crore under Agriculture against an annual target of ₹4000 crore.
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₹1875 crore under MSME against an annual target of ₹5040 crore.
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₹260 crore under Other Priority Sector against an annual target of ₹2200 crore.
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₹1668 crore under Non-Priority Sector.
Chattopadhyay noted that while significant progress had been made, much work remained to achieve the ambitious targets set for the financial year.
RBI’s Concerns
Surendra Nidar, State Head, RBI Regional Office Agartala, flagged concerns over the slow progress in re-KYC of accounts, particularly during the ongoing Jansuraksha Campaign. He called on banks to adopt proactive strategies to expedite compliance, highlighting its importance in maintaining account security and meeting regulatory standards.
Participation of Key Officials
The meeting also witnessed the presence of several senior officials and representatives from key institutions. Among them were Tapas Roy, Secretary, Social Welfare; Rakhi Biswas, Director, Institutional Finance; T.K. Chakma, CEO TRLM; Vineet Chaturvedi, Director, KVIC; Onsing Marchang, GM, RBI RO Agartala; Vinay Kumar, ZM, PNB Zonal Office Guwahati; Anil Kotmire, GM-OIC, NABARD RO Agartala; Rituraj Krishna, Convener, SLBC Tripura; and Satyendra Singh, Chairman, Tripura Gramin Bank.
Their collective participation underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration in driving financial inclusion, rural development, and banking sector efficiency in Tripura.
Looking Ahead
The SLBC serves as a vital platform for coordination among banks, state government departments, and regulatory agencies to ensure effective implementation of credit and financial inclusion programs. With a renewed push on flagship schemes, crop loans, MSME financing, and social security coverage, the Tripura government is determined to leverage banking networks to strengthen rural livelihoods and economic growth.
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Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha concluded the meeting by reiterating the importance of inclusive financial growth, sectoral credit flow, and proactive participation of banks in achieving the state’s development goals.
