20,000 Gram Panchayats in Maharashtra to get e-banking facilities

MUMBAI: In a bid to curb financial irregularities by self-help groups and money lenders, Maharashtra government has decided to start e-banking facilities in 20,000 state Gram Panchayats.

There are around 28,000 Gram Panchayats in the state and out them 20,000 would have the e-banking facility, Maharashtra rural development minister Jayant Patil, who took a decision in this regard recently, said.

"With this, Maharashtra would become the first state in the country to provide the facility of e-banking in Gram Panchayats," he claimed.

"Duping by money lenders, self-help groups and financial irregularities will be curbed and Gram Panchayats will become the centre of financial transactions," he said.

The state government is in the process of signing agreement with nationalised banks for its implementation soon.

Out of the total 28,000 Gram Panchayats in the state, only 5,000-6,000 have branches of banks, a rural development department official said.