Sohra(Meghalaya), Feb 12 : A One day Field Level Financial Literacy Event on the theme, “Credit Discipline and Credit from Formal Institutions” was organised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in Mawkdok today as part of the Financial Literacy Week 2021 of the RBI, which is being observed from the 8th to the 12th of February 2021 across the country.
P. Gangte, General Manager and Officer-in-Charge, RBI, Shillong delivered the keynote address in the presence of A. S. Mukhim, MCS, Additional Deputy Commissioner and SDO (Civil), Sohra Civil Sub Division.
Delivering the keynote address, P. Gangte encouraged the people to avail the different Loan Schemes offered by the various banks and financial institutions and warned the participants of the dangers in taking loans from private money lenders as he says that the money lenders lend out money at interest rates which are extremely high as compared to the interest rates offered by banks.
Highlighting on the theme of the programme, he says that for people to achieve credit discipline they need to follow three important rules. To Be Smart – to take loans only from formal institutions like Banks and registered Finance Institutions regulated by RBI, to Be Wise – to borrow only as much as the ability to repay and to Be Responsible – to ensure that EMIs and dues are paid on time, thereby building a good credit history and credit score with Banks.
In his speech, A. S. Mukhim, stressed on the importance for the people of the area to open Bank Accounts. He highlighted the various advantages for which a Bank account can benefit the people especially when it comes to Government Schemes. He gave the example of MNREGS for which a Bank Account ensures and facilitates transparency and the smooth transition of funds into individual accounts. He urged the people present to actively participate and learn from the programme, absorbing the knowledge being imparted from the presentations given by the Resource Persons from RBI and to further carry the valuable knowledge obtained from the programme and in turn, further educate their fellow neighbours and friends who were unable to attend the function.
During the programme, the Officials from RBI, Shillong gave presentations to the people of the area on various aspects of digital banking such as the various alternative modes of payment like mobile wallets, internet banking, UPI, USSD etc. Further, the participants were cautioned against the various scams and fictitious offers received via SMS, E-mails, Telephone Calls, Social Networking sites etc.
They were also briefed on the procedure for lodging grievances under the Banking Ombudsman Scheme 2006, the Ombudsman Scheme for Non-Banking Financial Companies, 2018, the Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions, 2019 and the Complaint Management System (CMS) of RBI.
Others present on the occasion were O. Nongbri, Managing Director, Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd., Smt. Tshering Diki, Chairperson, Meghalaya Rural Bank, P. Tynsong, BDO, Laitkroh Khatarshnong C& RD Block, L. Hangmuanthang, Assistant General Manager, RBI, Shillong , the Rangbah Shnong of Mawkdok Village, Officials from various Banks and Financial Institutions, members of the Khyndai Kyntoit Social and Cultural Organisation (KKSCO) among others.
The Meghalaya Rural Bank and Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank also deployed their Mobile ATM Vans at Mawkdok Village during the programme for the benefit of the participants.
