Kolkata, Aug. 4 -- The state government claimed a record achievement in bank credit during the last financial year, with total lending to the priority and non-priority sectors touching Rs 7 lakh crore - 184 per cent above the target set.
Credit flow to the agriculture sector reached 101 per cent of the target, while lending to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) stood at 124 per cent of the goal, according to the government.
The figures were known after the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) meeting chaired by Finance minister Swapan Dasgupta - the first such meeting since the BJP assumed office in West Bengal. The meeting also set a bank credit target of Rs 3.8 lakh crore for the 2026-27 financial year.
West Bengal's credit-deposit (CD) ratio has been nearly 71 per cent in 2025-26; however, it is still less than the national average of 80 per cent. Dasgupta urged the stakeholders to work in close coordination and synchronisation so that the CD ratio becomes at par with the centre.
The minister reviewed the performance of banks under SLBC framework and urged those banks that have lagged behind in lending to pull up their socks.
Cybersecurity was given special emphasis during the meeting, with discussions focusing on illegal financial transactions and the smuggling of counterfeit currency, particularly in areas bordering Bangladesh.
"The discussion primarily centred on how much the banks have been able to deliver under various government schemes and where they have fallen short. They have achieved a great deal, but there were shortcomings in some areas. Officials from various departments will subsequently hold detailed discussions with the banks and communicate the government's expectations," said a senior Nabanna official.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.