The Potential Linked Credit Plan for 2016-17 prepared by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has assessed the credit potential for the district at Rs.4998.15 crore, a projected growth of 27 per cent more than the projections for the current year. At the district consultative committee meeting held here on Wednesday, Collector V. Dakshinamoorthy released the report that was received by C. Thangavel, Zonal Manager, Indian Bank in the presence of Ravindran, Assistant General Manager, Reserve Bank of India and S. Chandrasekhar, Lead District Manager. The Collector stressed on the need for increased credit flow aimed at capital formation both in agriculture and MSME sector. He said that bankers have been advised to support up to Rs. 121 crore for SHGs and finance 1,500 Joint Liability Groups for the current year. There is an immense scope for lending to sectors like plantation and horticulture, dairy, poultry and marketing infrastructure in the district, he added. Mr. Ravindran said that the Reserve Bank of India has recently modified the priority sector guidelines and prescribes sub-targets to banks for lending to farmers. S. Bhuvarahan, District Development Manager, NABARD, highlighted that of the total plan outlay, 67 per cent is earmarked for agriculture sector consisting of farm credit (57 per cent), agriculture infrastructure (two per cent) and ancillary activities (six per cent). The MSME sector has been earmarked with 10 per cent while export credit was allotted (10 per cent), education (three per cent) and housing (two per cent). Presently, under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund of NABARD, projects valued at Rs.182.56 crore covering, bridges, rural roads and school buildings are under progress. Mr. Chandrasekhar said that banks have been advised to increase the lending to the micro-enterprises in line with RBI’s guidelines. He also advised the bankers to utilise the plan document while preparing their branch or bank credit plan. A projected growth of 27 per cent more than the projections for the current year