Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday launched a scheme that aims to bring all panchayat areas in the state under the banking network.
Launching the 'Ama Bank' scheme, Patnaik said 65 per cent of the state's panchayat areas do not have any bank branches, while financial inclusion is the foundational premise of social and economic progress and empowerment of people.
"No country or state can ever attain inclusive growth without achieving financial inclusion for its people. Reaching out to the people at the bottom of the pyramid and delivery of public services to the last mile in a fair and transparent manner has been one of the highest priority agenda of the state government," he said.