PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has asked banks to increase financial literacy campaigns in educational institutions across Goa.
Chairing the State-level Bankers’ Committee meeting on Thursday, he said awareness was important to prevent cybercrime and financial fraud.
He urged banks to organise financial literacy drives in colleges and rural areas, saying that even graduates in medicine, engineering and law often lack basic financial knowledge.
Sawant praised banks for their efforts in digital banking, cybercrime prevention and investor awareness, but said financial literacy levels still need to improve.
He said banks had achieved 90 per cent of their lending targets last year and asked them to increase credit support for tourism, MSMEs, agriculture, fisheries and green energy sectors.
Simplifying loan procedures and speeding up disbursal would benefit ordinary people, he said, while also urging banks to improve their credit-deposit ratio and work in line with the State’s vision of “Developed Goa 2037”.
The Chief Minister also highlighted new welfare measures for private sector employees and asked banks handling accounts of private companies to coordinate with the Labour Welfare Department for direct transfer of welfare benefits.
These benefits include pensions, scholarships and other assistance funded through the Labour Welfare Fund.
He said private workers registered with the Labour Department would be covered under the schemes.
Sawant announced that private employees would receive accident insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, with the State government paying the premium.
Workers who complete 20 years of continuous service will also be eligible for a one-time incentive of Rs 15,000, which will be disbursed shortly.
