Calls for enhanced priority sector lending
KISHTWAR, JULY 01: The District Level Review Committee (DLRC) meeting for the quarter ending March 2026 was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma to review performance of banks operating in the district during financial year 2025-26.
Lead District Manager (LDM) Kishtwar Harsh Rawal, as per an official statement, presented a comprehensive review of the district’s banking performance, highlighting achievements under the Annual Credit Plan (ACP), Priority Sector Lending, Credit-Deposit (CD) Ratio and various government-sponsored schemes.
Against the overall annual credit target of ₹1,001 crore for FY 2025-26, banks collectively achieved disbursements of ₹1,181.70 crore, surpassing the target. Under the Priority Sector, total advances stood at ₹586.64 crore, with Jammu and Kashmir Bank contributing ₹545.81 crore, the major share of the district’s priority sector credit.
While appreciating the overall performance of banks during FY 2025-26, the Deputy Commissioner said all banks need to enhance their contribution towards Priority Sector Lending, observing that Priority Sector advances reflect a bank’s trust in its customers and are vital for inclusive economic growth.
The Deputy Commissioner directed SBI Kishtwar, the Lead Bank in the district, to significantly improve its Priority Sector Lending performance, sought reasons for the decline in the district’s CD Ratio and advised banks to focus on improving credit flow. He further directed banks to explore greater lending opportunities in the Renewable Energy and Social Infrastructure sectors to strengthen Priority Sector performance.
The RBI Lead District Officer appreciated the banking sector’s efforts and advised all banks to actively participate in the ongoing Saturation Campaign being conducted from 15 June to 15 July 2026 to maximise coverage of eligible beneficiaries under financial inclusion initiatives. Expressing concern over the decline in the district’s Credit-Deposit Ratio from 64% in December 2025 to 59.85% in March 2026, he stressed the need for improving credit deployment and emphasised organising awareness programmes in schools and colleges to encourage educational loan uptake.
The Deputy Commissioner also chaired the District Level RSETI Advisory Committee (DLRAC) meeting and reviewed the performance of RSETI. The Director, RSETI, presented an overview of the institute’s training programmes, achievements and ongoing initiatives.
Among those present were ADDC Vinod Kumar Behnal, ADC Pawan Kotwal, PO ICDS Rishi Kumar Sharma, CAO Kushal Chandel, CHO Sajid Mustafa, DSHO Dr Jamil Nasir, J&K Bank Cluster Head Anil Sharma besides other officers and staff concerned from various departments.
