Bank of Baroda has a significant presence in Rajasthan, faciltiating better banking for the people of the state. Mehul Dani provides an overview of th

ank of Baroda has enjoyed a premier position in the state of Rajasthan and has a major role to play in its development. Bank of Baroda has presence in all 33 districts of the state through a vast network of 348 branches.
B.B. Garg, zonal manager, Bank of Baroda, Rajasthan, says: "BoB started its operations in the state in August 1958. Since then, it has been expanding through out the state by setting up its branches in urban, semi urban and rural area. Administrative control of the branches is ensured through 4 regional offices located atjaipur (105 branches), Ajmer (85 branches), jodhpur(62 branches) and Udaipur (96 branches). Out of 348 branches, 80% branches are located in rural and semi urban areas catering to the credit needs of farmers, artisans, small borrowers and MSEs. The bank has 71 metro/urban branches located in major cities contributing to development of industries particularly under MSME sector. The bank has 12 forex branches which cater to the need of exporters and importers. The bank has 2 Retail Loan Factories - at jaipur and jodhpur. There are 3 SME Loan Factories - at jaipur, jodhpur and Bhilwara.
BOB AS SLBC CONVENOR
Garg says: "BoB is entrusted with lead bank responsibility in 12 out of 33 districts of the state by the RBI. Besides, the bank is also assigned the responsibility of SLBC convenor. Recently the 101st SLBC meeting has been convened by the bank on 29th June 2009 to review the performance of the banking sector in Rajasthan under Annual Credit Plan and progress under various government sponsored schemes like SGSY, SjSRY and PMEGP. Based upon the Potential Linked Credit Plans as prepared by ABARD and District Credit Plans approved in the District Level Consultative Committees, annual credit plan for 2009-10 for aggregate amount of Rs 23,982 cr has been approved by the SLBC."
BUSINESS AND SOCIAL INITIATIVES
BoB has recently launched a 3 year long Total Integrated Rural Development Project called 'Project Dungarpur' with a total financial outlay of Rs 54 crores to be expended over 3 years. The project incorporates a wide range of activities ranging from financial inclusion, integrated rural development through agriculture, allied activities and promoting rural/cottage industries in the district. It aims at developing human resources through training to unskilled/semi-skilled personals.
Apart from this, the bank also thrives for its social responsibility and is running 7 R-SETls functioning as 'Baroda Swarojgar Vikas Sansthan' at jaipur, Ajmer, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Karauli and Churu. Out of these, the R-SETI at Ajmer is exclusively imparting training to women entrepreneurs and has residential facilities with lodging and boarding arrangement at the institution itself. The bank has planned to establish 6 more R-SETls during current financial year in the districts of Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, Bundi, jhunjhunu, Bhilwara and Pratapgarh. Help desks for MSME entrepreneurs are set up and functioning at all the four regional offices.
TARGETS AND EXPANSION PLANS
According to Garg, BoB has fixed an ambitious target of business development in Rajasthan during the year 2009-10 of Rs 12,250 crore of deposits and Rs 9,000 crore of advances, charting a growth rate of 27% and 22% respectively. The bank has planned to register a growth rate of 24% in agriculture, 20% in industries, 38% in SME, and 28% in total business. The bank has planned to open 16 new branches in the state. Recently, the bank has focused to strengthen and streamlined its marketing force by taking out all back office work from branches. A specific outfit - Regional Back Office - has been set up with a state-of­the-art technology at Vidyadharnager in jaipur.

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