<span style="color: #222222;">National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, NABARD has begun formal operations in Union Territory Ladakh. NABARD Chairman Dr G. R. Chintala today inaugurated the District Development Manager Office for Ladakh in Leh. UT Secretary Ravinder Kumar and Divisional Commissioner Saugat Biswas were also present at this juncture. On this occasion, they also released a Glimpse of Initiatives of NABARD in Ladakh.<br />''<br />''Dr Chintala said, NABARD will intensify its operations in Ladakh from the new DDM Office at Leh. He said, Ladakh has vast scope for primary sector development like agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, diary and animal husbandry.<br />''<br />''Dr Chintala assured to extend Rural Infrastructure Development Fund to Union Territory of Ladakh, if the Administration sends the proposals to avail the fund facility through the Home Ministry. He said, RIDF can be extended to the UTs without legislature, with intervention of the Centre.<br />''<br />''The NABARD Chairman also suggested the UT Administration to plan local District Central Cooperative Bank or Gramin Bank to keep the inflow of the money from other sectors, invested locally for primary sector development.<br />''<br />''Secretary Ravinder Kumar said, NABARD DDM would fulfill the financial requirements of the primary sector in Ladakh. Mr Biswas said, the UT would avail NABARD's presence to further improve economic development of rural Ladakh. He also said, the UT would utilize the expertise of NABCON Services in preparing the DPRs and project reports.</span><br />