Over the past four decades, NABARD has played a vital role in supporting India’s rural economy, infrastructure, agriculture, cooperative institutions, and self-help groups. “Keeping in mind the needs of the country in the coming times, NABARD should set its goals for the next 25 years, which should be reviewed every 5 years and the goals of 5 years should be reviewed every year. There is a need to come forward with courage and foresight to achieve the goals,” said Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, who emphasized the importance of bold and visionary steps to accomplish these goals during his address at NABARD’s 42nd Foundation Day celebration held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The event was graced by Minister of State for Finance Dr. Bhagwat Karad, Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperation, Gyanesh Kumar, and NABARD Chairman K.V. Shaji.
Amit Shah also distributed Micro-ATM cards to milk societies and RuPay Kisan Credit cards to the members of these societies. Shah said that District Cooperative Banks have initiated the service of providing Rupay credit cards along with debit cards. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only the cities of India, but the villages are also becoming self-sufficient today. So far an amount of about Rs8 lakh crore has gone to the rural economy through NABARD for capital formation. In 1982, the short-term loan of Rs 896 crore was provided for agriculture finance, which NABARD has taken to Rs 1.58 lakh crore today. No one except NABARD can achieve the target of development of the country’s rural economy, agriculture, finance of cooperative system and expansion of self-help groups and rural infrastructure, the minister added.
