Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

09-December-2011 16:50 IST

As per information furnished by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), details of credit facilities given to Minority Communities by scheduled commercial banks including Public and Private sector banks during the last three years are as under:

(`in crore)

Source: RBI

It is seen that total outstanding credit to minority communities has increased 48% during the last three years.

RBI has advised all scheduled commercial banks vide master Circular dated 1^st July, 2011 to improve loan availability to all the identified minority communities throughout the country. The circular, inter alia, advises the banks to create a special cell and appoint nodal officers in each bank. It also indicates how banks should monitor credit flow to minority communities. The detailed circular is available on the website of RBI at www.rbi.org.in.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri   Namo Narain Meena in written reply to an Unstarred Question in Lok  Sabha today.

DSM/HB/GN

Credit access for minority communities strengthened as banks instructed to create special cells and nodal officers. Reserve Bank of India directed scheduled commercial banks to improve loan availability to identified minority communities by establishing a special cell, appointing nodal officers in each bank, and implementing monitoring arrangements for credit flow to those communities; aggregate outstanding advances to minority communities increased over the three-year period ending March 2011.