Welcome address of Shri V.K.Sharma, Executive Director, RBI for the events held on March 22, 2010 - ਆਰਬੀਆਈ - Reserve Bank of India
Welcome address of Shri V.K.Sharma, Executive Director, RBI for the events held on March 22, 2010
Shri V.K. Sharma, Executive Director, Reserve Bank of India
delivered-on ਮਾਰਚ 23, 2010
On this momentous occasion of the launching of the project on Financial Literacy in Karnataka, it is my honour and privilege to extend a very warm and hearty welcome to Respected Dr Subbarao, Governor, Reserve Bank of India. I also extend a hearty welcome to Shri S. V. Ranganath, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka, Smt. Shyamala Gopinath, Smt.Usha Thorat, Dr.K.C.Chakrabarty and Dr. Subir Gokarn, Deputy Governors, RBI, Principal Secretaries of the Govt. of Karnataka. I also take this opportunity to welcome the Chairmen and Managing Directors of all banks, all distinguished invitees and guests, Chairman, SLBC, Karnataka, and other senior officials of the State Government, Education Department officials, senior officials of banks, Chairmen of Regional Rural Banks, Lead District Managers, prize-winning students and their proud parents, other students hailing from semi-urban and rural areas and the members of the print & electronic media. 2. Three important events have been scheduled for this afternoon. These events, which are jointly hosted by the Reserve Bank of India and Government of Karnataka, comprise release of textbooks containing material on Financial Education in school curriculum, distribution of prizes to the winners of the State-wide Quiz Competitions and launching of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Scheme in Karnataka. 3. The background to this momentous event was the decision taken, during the meeting of the respected Governor with Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, on May 14, 2009 to launch a pilot programme on Financial Literacy in Karnataka in association with the State Government. The programme envisaged introducing financial literacy in the curriculum of schools and colleges in the State of Karnataka. Subsequently, at a high Level meeting between Shri Sudhakar Rao, the then Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka and Smt. Usha Thorat, Deputy Governor, RBI, it was decided that revision of syllabus and content of textbooks for classes V, VII, VIII and IX would be carried out for the academic year 2010-11. Accordingly, the content for the proposed curriculum change was developed by RBI and formally handed over by the Reserve Bank Governor to the Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka on September 22, 2009 during the Outreach Programme organized in Doddabelavangala village in Bengaluru Rural district. I am happy to inform you that the textbooks incorporating the content provided by RBI have since been printed and made available by the Government of Karnataka. 5. Finally, I would like to say a few words about Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Scheme which is formally being launched today by Chief Secretary, Shri S.V. Ranganath. This was a sequel to Governor’s meeting with senior officials of the State Government, commercial banks and financial institutions represented in Karnataka on May 14, 2009, where it was decided that all issues relating to implementation shall be resolved to facilitate its implementation in the State. Accordingly, steps were taken to implement the scheme as a pilot in Bellary, Chitradurga and Gulbarga districts under ‘One district-multiple banks’ model for routing payments through ‘no frills’ accounts, or other bank accounts, under Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Programme and Social Security Pensions schemes. Such account-holders will be issued biometric smart cards with individual IDs. Later on, the Government of Karnataka identified three other districts viz. Chamarajanagar, Mandya and Dharwad for implementation of the scheme under ‘One district- one bank’ model. This entire initiative is being planned and executed in co-ordination with the State Government, SLBC and the respective Lead banks of the above six districts. 6. I am sure that today’s momentous and landmark event would be a watershed in the march of the State of Karnataka towards financial inclusion and inclusive growth and sustainable prosperity and going forward would pave the way for its replication across the entire country. Thank you all so very much indeed! |