District branches of co-op banks not to have politicians as MDs
The Punjab government on Friday decided not to nominate politicians as managing directors (MDs) of state-run cooperative banks at the district level. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
The Punjab government on Friday decided not to nominate politicians as managing directors (MDs) of state-run cooperative banks at the district level. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
The step, according to a government spokesman, is aimed at bringing more efficiency in the delivery system of banks and enhancing profitability by appointing professionals on top posts in banks. The government would gradually shift to the practice of having professionals as MDs.
Badal also issued directions for the computerisation of all 805 branches of these banks in the state, along with implementing core banking service to plug leakages in banks. He also told the cooperation department to adopt a consumer-centric approach by providing ATM facility in all such bank branches.
Giving his nod for the recruitment of 300 clerks, 21 assistant system analysts and 50 managers, the CM asked the department to ensure that the recruitment was held every year through a centralised recruitment process in a transparent manner so as to attract the best talent for banking services.
In order to further enhance the quality of services provided by cooperative banks by engaging professionals on the board of governors, Badal constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the chief secretary to examine the issue.
The CM also stressed on the need to increase the business of Markfed and Milkfed by popularising products manufactured by both cooperative bodies. He said both agencies should make all-out efforts for better marketing of their products, which were renowned all over the world for their quality and taste. Badal asked these agencies to focus on enhancing sales of their wide range of products in national and international markets.
In an effort to check the sale of spurious cattle feed in the state, the CM gave in-principle approval for enacting an act to check the malpractice. He said the sale of poor-quality cattle feed was not in the interests of peasantry of the state and effective steps were needed to check it.
Prominent among those present on the occasion were cooperative societies registrar AS Miglani, Markfed MD Dr Karamjeet Singh Sra, Milkfed director Balwinder Singh Sidhu and Punjab State Cooperative Agriculture Development Bank managing director GS Mangat.