Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launched Ama Bank to provide banking services through customer service points (CSP).
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the ‘Ama Bank’ initiative to cover 4,373 unbanked gram panchayats under the financial inclusion programme.
Under this initiative, 750 panchayats will get banking services through CSP outlets in the first phase. The remaining panchayats will be covered by March 2024.
Customer service point (CSP) Plus banking outlets will empower people by providing credit for small businesses.
These outlets will provide 15 banking services and steps will be taken to provide doorstep services to the elderly, differently-abled persons and pregnant women.
Around 65 per cent of the total 6,798-gram panchayats do not have a brick-and-mortar bank branch.
Odisha government in collaboration with six public sector banks has come up with the “Ama Bank” scheme for providing banking services to all unbanked gram panchayats.
The government will provide rent-free banking space for five years.
