Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu presiding over the 233rd and 234th meeting of the SLBC with senior bank officials and ministers at the Secretariat in Amaravati on Friday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who chaired the 233rd and 234th meeting of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) at the Secretariat on Friday, emphasized on accelerated credit support for agriculture, small and medium enterprises and renewable energy sectors.
Mr. Naidu emphasized that no citizen should be forced to rely on private moneylenders and urged banks to ensure easy access to institutional finance. Special emphasis was placed on equitable development, with loans to SC, ST and BC communities highlighted as essential.
Banks must act as development partners and provide seamless institutional finance to boost agriculture, small and medium enterprises, renewable energy and entrepreneurship, reflecting Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to equitable and sustainable growth, he said, adding, “We envision Amaravati as a hub for financial institutions.”
The Chief Minister called for generous funding for the renewable energy sector, noting that both the Center and the State were prioritizing investments, with counter-guarantees being provided by DISCOMs.
Mr. Naidu also announced measures to strengthen Farmers and Producers Organizations (FPOs) and replicate the success of DWCRA groups while resolving TIDCO’s outstanding home loan issues and reducing multiple charges on DWCRA accounts. He argued that the systems had gone off track under the previous regime when they borrowed heavily at high interest rates. “Due to credibility and a strong brand, it is possible to get loans at lower interest rates. That’s why we give top priority to restoring credibility,” he said.
Credit plan
The Chief Minister reviewed the implementation of the Annual Credit Plan 2025-26. Bankers announced disbursement of ₹2.96 crore to agriculture and allied sectors, ₹1,490 crore to tenant farmers and ₹95,714 crore to small and medium enterprises across the state.
Mr. Naidu urged banks to support natural farming and business initiatives. He highlighted the government’s vision of inclusive growth and reiterated the ‘One Family – One Entrepreneur’ policy aimed at creating five million women entrepreneurs.
He also said that the government is streamlining land records and issuing Pattadar passbooks with QR code and recommending banks to adopt similar QR-enabled systems for accounts.
Another key point of discussion was the support of startups. Various banks including Union Bank, SBI, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, Indian Bank and HDFC Bank support Ratan Tata Innovation Hub in multiple cities in Andhra Pradesh. Union Bank as the lead bank has contributed ₹10 crore from its CSR funds towards the initiative.
Ministers Payyavula Keshav and Kondapalli Srinivas, Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand, senior bankers, RBI and NABARD officials and representatives of SC and ST national commissions attended the SLBC meeting.
Published – 23 Jan 2026 20:39 IST
