Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jul 12: Joint director of Bankers institute of Rural Development (BIRD) K Laxminarayana said, “BIRD focuses on eco-friendly campus and has introduced several programmes.”

Addressing media here on Friday July 12, K Laxminarayana further said, "We have installed solar power plant of 90 kw. We are also installing rain water harvesting system, which will scale it up and enlarge to higher capacity. Our campus is plastic free, complete landscaping and we take drip irrigation method to conserve water. 

“We have conducted national and international level programmes under various topics such as banking, microfinance and many more. We give a lot of training programmes to NGO's, rural corporation banks, urban corporation banks, SHG, farmers club etc. We will be soon having a independent website which will be rolled out in a month’s time. 

“National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development (NABARD) assets grew by 20% and reached 4.87 lac crore during 2018-19. NABARD has partnered with government of India and the state government to address some of the problems in agriculture and rural sector. In the long term irrigation fund, Rs 75,770 crore sanctioned and Rs 34,249 crore is already disbursed. As funding to Swaccha Bharath abhiyan gramin programme, Rs 15,000 crore is sanctioned, out of which, Rs 8,698 is disbursed.

“NABARDs support for financial inclusion in the past includes assistance for core banking solution in cooperative banks, providing internet facilities to rural branches of RRB's, developing digital payment mechanism in rural areas and creating financial awareness programmes. NABARD’s support to SHG bank linkage programme resulted in promotion of 10 million SHGs with 120 million rural households and credit linkage of five millon SHGs. Digitization of SHG accounts through E shakthi programME on pilot basis more than 100 districts.”