Sambalpur: A panchayat in this district surrounded by Mahanadi river finally got its first banking service after Sukant Tripathy, district Collector (in-charge)-cum-project director, DRDA, inaugurated a customer care centre in the panchayat, Monday.
Residents of Kudagunderpur panchayat, comprising seven villages, were overjoyed at the opening of the customer care centre in their panchayat that was opened 75 years after the country achieved Independence.
Reports said that the panchayat in Dhankauda block is surrounded by Mahanadi river and has a population of over around 6,000.
Speaking on the occasion, Tripathy said that the residents in the panchayat were living a life of neglect, seclusion and drudgery as it was surrounded from all sides by the Mahanadi river.
Sources said the villagers were facing a host of problems in availing of education and transport facilities and healthcare services. The farmers also find it difficult to sell their harvested crops due to the same reason.
The villagers had to risk their lives and travel in small and dingy boats to reach the mainland for their daily work. Many lives were lost during these 75 years and finally their demand to get banking services in their panchayat has been met, Tripathy said.
Recently, their problem in connecting with the mainland has been eased after the state government realised their problem and constructed a bridge on the river connecting the panchayat with the mainland.
The bridge work has been completed but is yet to be unveiled but people have started travelling on the bridge.
The newly opened centre will not only help in the financial inclusion of residents through opening of bank accounts, but will also meet credit needs of the people for enhancing their livelihood and income, Tripathy said.
Earlier, the people had to travel 15-20 km daily to get banking service but now the bank has come to their doorstep. The opening of the centre will result in an increase in more customers while it will be easier for people to get loan and make its payment.
The members of women self-help group, farmers and small and marginal traders will also be benefitted from the opening of the centre.
Addressing the gathering, Dhankauda block development officer Basant Hati said that taking banking services to rural and remote areas in the state has always been a priority of the state government. Moreover, the government has plans to implement many more welfare schemes in the panchayat.
As part of this programme, construction of a Mission Shakti building in the panchayat is nearing completion while plans are afoot for construction of a skill development centre and panchayat building in the area, the BDO said.
Currently, the panchayat office is functioning from Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra. A new building for the high school has also been constructed.
A woman Prabhasini Nayak said that today is red-letter day for all of us as the residents including the farmers will be benefitted from the opening of panchayat. Senior officials of Utkal Gramya Bank and local public representatives were present on the occasion.
PNN
