The State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) meeting for the quarter ended June 2025 was convened on 16th September 2025 under the chairmanship of Dr. Ravi Kota, Chief Secretary, and Government of Assam and co-chaired by Shri Prabhas Bose, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India.

In his address, the Chief General Manager, SBI, emphasized the need for banks to step up their efforts in priority sector lending to accelerate the overall economic growth of Assam. He also highlighted the importance of the upcoming national campaigns – Swachhta Hi Sewa and Lok Kalyan Mela, beginning on 17th September 2025 and urged banks to participate actively to ensure their effective implementation.

The Chief Secretary underscored the importance of improving the Credit-Deposit (CD) ratio of the State to bring it at par with the national average. He advised banks to intensify their efforts during the second and third quarters, noting that the fourth quarter may witness constraints due to the forthcoming State elections. Highlighting key areas where bank credit could play a transformative role, he mentioned opportunities arising from the Semiconductor Plant at Jagiroad, the PepsiCo Project in Nagaon, the recently inaugurated Bio-Ethanol Project by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the upcoming Silchar–Shillong Highway project connecting five states as a major logistics hub, and the proposed new airport at Silchar.

The Chief Secretary further called upon banks to extend active support to the Reserve Bank of India’s campaign on unclaimed deposits. The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the State Government’s flagship schemes, including the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan (CMAAA), Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan, and Orunodoi 3.0. Particular emphasis was laid on ensuring effective convergence with the Finance Department to maximize benefits for the intended beneficiaries.

The meeting concluded with a collective resolve of banks and stakeholders to work in close coordination with the Government of Assam to enhance credit flow, strengthen financial inclusion, and contribute meaningfully to the State’s socio-economic growth and development.

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