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The Centre will undertake a fresh saturation drive for key financial inclusion schemes in West Bengal while also pushing for improved credit access, MSME financing and rural lending.
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a new initiative in West Bengal to boost financial inclusion and credit access for MSMEs and rural borrowers,(PTI)The Centre will launch a fresh saturation drive in West Bengal to expand coverage of flagship financial inclusion and social security schemes, while also stepping up efforts to improve credit access for businesses, MSMEs and rural borrowers, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday.
These schemes include Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana and PM SVANidhi, according to the official press statement.
The announcement came during a meeting in New Delhi with Suvendu Adhikari, during which the issue of credit availability across sectors in West Bengal and the implementation of central government schemes were discussed, according to a finance ministry statement.
Upon Adhikari's request, Sitharaman said roundtable meetings involving public sector banks, industry bodies and MSME associations would be held across different regions of the state to improve credit availability. The initiative aims to support industrial development, entrepreneurship and employment generation in West Bengal.
Rural lending
The finance minister also said the performance of West Bengal Gramin Bank would be reviewed, with a focus on strengthening financial inclusion and expanding access to formal credit in rural areas.
She further assured support for processing eligible proposals from West Bengal under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme to strengthen capital infrastructure in the state and urged the state government to expedite reforms identified under the reform-linked component of the scheme.
The renewed push on central schemes comes amid a broader review by the Union government of the implementation status of key programmes in West Bengal.
Earlier, Mint reported on 8 May that the Union government had launched a comprehensive review of central schemes in West Bengal following the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) decisive victory in the state assembly elections, according to three people aware of the development.
Implementation roadmap
A fractious relationship between the state and Centre—run by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), respectively—meant several central schemes became mired in disputes.
Now, with the BJP winning an absolute majority in the state assembly, the Centre has directed ministries to identify schemes that remained stalled, under-implemented or non-operational under the outgoing TMC government.
The exercise is expected to accelerate the rollout of schemes that either did not take off or saw limited implementation in the state, including Ayushman Bharat, earlier phases of the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI), Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin, PM Gati Shakti and the Jal Jeevan Mission, among others.
One of the people cited above said the Centre is also examining the status of infrastructure projects, including rural roads, drinking water supply, healthcare facilities and logistics connectivity, “to prepare a priority execution roadmap for the state”.
About the Author
Harsh Kumar
Harsh Kumar is a policy reporter at Mint (HT Media Group), where he covers the Ministry of Commerce and Industry along with key departments of the Ministry of Finance, including the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) and the Department of Financial Services (DFS). With over five years of experience in business and economic journalism, he has developed strong expertise in tracking policy developments and their wider economic impact.<br><br>He has previously worked with Business Standard, Moneycontrol, and Outlook Money, where he reported extensively on banking, financial services, and the broader economy. Over the years, he has built a reputation for delivering accurate, insightful, and impactful stories, supported by a keen eye for detail and a consistent track record of breaking exclusive news.<br><br>An alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia, Harsh closely follows regulatory changes and key economic trends shaping India’s financial and industrial landscape. His reporting aims to simplify complex policy issues for a wider audience while maintaining depth and credibility.<br><br>Outside of work, he enjoys tracking policy developments, finding scoops, and travelling, reflecting his curiosity about how economic decisions shape everyday life.
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