NABARD to mark its 34th Foundation Day on July 12
Financial Literacy is a pre requisite for inclusive growth for which Government of India, Reserve Bank of India and NABARD accord the highest priority. NABARD has been playing an active role in promoting Financial Literacy in the rural areas through its wide spectrum of interventions in the form of publicity materials, wall paintings, folk lore, through print and electronic media. The banking system in the State needs to be geared itself up for including the large segment of the rural population, hitherto, excluded from the services of formal banking system.
On the occasion of NABARD Foundation day on 12 July 2015, NABARD is organizing Financial Literacy and Awareness Programme (FLAP) in 27 districts of Odisha. These programmes intended to create awareness among the financially excluded people in village areas on various schemes launched for the benefit of common man viz., Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Prime Minister Suraskha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Prime Minister Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY). These programmes would give special emphasis on Atal Pension Yojana (the pension scheme) which is a very important social security scheme ensuring that people voluntarily save for their old age income security after cessation of their working life. NABARD in association with banks and other development partners would organise literacy programmes to facilitate enrollment of target groups under these social security schemes.
NABARD was established by Govt. of India on 12 July 1982 with a view to promoting integrated rural development and securing prosperity of rural areas. NABARD has endeavoured for a qualitative change in the life of rural masses through its wide spectrum of interventions. Over the years NABARD has made sustained efforts for enhancing production and productivity of agriculture, generation of employment and reduction of rural poverty through various innovative programmes, increased ground level credit, promotion of agribusiness, strengthening of rural infrastructure, up-scaling of micro finance interventions, creation of livelihoods in the rural non-farm sector, etc. NABARD has systematically worked for financial inclusion and for expanding access to financial resources using its Financial Inclusion Fund.
NABARD in Odisha has supported 3031 Village level, 551 Block level and 121 District Level Awareness Programmes, 18123 Wall paintings on Savings, Credit, Remittance, Insurance and Pension. Apart from above programmes NABARD also conducted 2024 programmes of Daskathia, puppet shows, street plays, quiz programmes for school children, district melas. Training of NGO / SHG leaders as master trainers; printing of handbills / leaflets / calendars /posters / playing cards on Financial Inclusion, messages on financial inclusion in print media and TV channels through 14 stations of All India Radio, Financial Literacy Awareness Programmes by RRBs were supported by NABARD in the State.
NABARD has produced a telefilm “Sambhab” of one hour duration on financial literacy. The film was telecast on DD, OTV & Kanak TV. The copies of the film have been distributed among the banks, related state government departments, FLCs, RSETIs, etc. Booklets and FAQ on Financial Literacy have also been printed for distribution to FLCs supported by NABARD and in district level/block level programmes.
With the broad objective of providing free financial literacy/education and credit counselling, Financial Literacy Centres (FLCs) are being encouraged in all districts through RRBs & Cooperative Banks. As on date 105 FLCs have been sanctioned to 15 DCCBs and 2RRBs in the state. Out of 105 FLCs sanctioned, 94 FLCs have been established by 15 DCCBs and 11 FLCs by 2 RRBs with the support of NABARD.