In Leh, the Second Meeting of Union Territory-level Bankers Committee was held today. Ladakh has the presence of five banks each in public and private sector. Apart from these banks, J&K Grameen Bank, J&K Cooperative Bank and State Financial Corporation are also operating the business in Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh.<br />'' <br />''All banking and financing institutions together share 5,217 crore rupees in deposits and 1,969 crore rupees as advances with a credit disbursement ratio of 37.74 per cent, upto June this year.<br />'' <br />''UT Finance Secretary and Commissioner Rigzin Samphel asked the bankers, especially the private banks to ensure provision of credit to the Ladakh people. He also called for setting up targets for bankers who are performing poorly in credit disbursal.<br />'' <br />''Similarly, Mr Samphel pointed out that still 113 villages are away from banking services in Ladakh region. He underlined that over 80 per cent of villages have V-Sat facility but bankers are not utilizing this to extend the banking services to those villages. He advised that bankers have to find out safe means to reach out to the villages for financial inclusiveness during the COVID pandemic times.<br />'' <br />''Secretary-Commissioner Ajeet Kumar Sahu asked the establishment of Rural Self-Employment Training Institutes (RSETI) and similar institutes and financial institutes together in a cohesive manner, to serve the trained and needy people. He also directed the banks to focus on effective implementation of social welfare schemes in the region.<br />'' <br />''Divisional Commissioner Saugat Biswas said, handlooms and handicrafts are left out in the lending process in the region, which are major self-employment generating trades in Ladakh.  He also advised bankers to popularize the welfare schemes through various means, to get the eligible persons informed.<br />'' <br />''UTLBC Convener Tsering Moru detailed about the performance of various social welfare schemes and programmes by the bankers threadbare. The UT Administration has pointed out several areas for improvement in lending, social reach out and popularization of schemes and programmes to provide the benefit to the eligible candidates.<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">SBI Regional Manager, Jammu Fayaz Ahmad Wani assured the UTLBC for improvement in credit disbursal ratio and support to the various government schemes. He appealed the Administration to waive stamp duty be extended till this financial year.</span><br />