12th December 2009
Srinagar
J&K Bank holds customer meet at Sopore
The prosperity of J&K Bank is irreversibly linked to the prosperity of the people of J&K.
Dr. Haseeb A Drabu, Chairman and Chief Executive J&K Bank stated this today while addressing a customer meet at Sopore organized by the Bank's Zonal Office, Kashmir (North).
Scores of fruit growers, traders, representatives of various trade bodies, senior citizens and other valuable customers, attended the meeting. The interactions held were open, positive and healthy where in the both people and the Bank exchanged greetings, gratitude and grievances.
Calling it as "enlightened self-interest", Dr Haseeb A Drabu said, "When you prosper then only will J&K Bank prosper". We are a commercial bank but we are also a developmental organization of our state, he added. Enumerating the consequences strategic decisions executed by the bank Dr Drabu said, "Under the JK specific lending, the advance portfolio in the state has seen a spectacular leap from mere Rs.1200 crores to Rs.12000 crores in just four years. Besides, the credit - deposit (CD) ratio has rose from 20% to 65%".
Responding to one of the remarks made by the general Secretary of Fruit Buyers Association, Ghulam Rasool Wagay regarding the role of bank in the development of horticulture infrastructure, Dr Drabu said that the bank had practically persuaded many people to come forward for the initiative of setting up few Compressed Atmospheric Stores (CA Stores) that would enhance the quality maintenance standards of Kashmiri fruit besides running full page ads in the leading English daily about financing these.
Unfortunately, nobody came forward, he added. Commenting upon another query about crop insurance raised in the meeting, Dr Drabu said the bank had consulted various Insurance companies for tie-ups but all the companies had several reservations regarding the issue. But he re-assured the fruit growers that the bank would come up with some kind of crop-insurance in near future.
Speaking on the occasion Javeed Ahmed, a representative of FCIK, extended deep gratitude for the services rendered by the bank across the state and especially in the apple town of Sopore said that all the branches of the area are overloaded with work that affects the customer convenience. He made an on-spot request for few more branches in the Sopore Tehsil, which was duly responded to by the chairman during his address. Earlier, Abdul Hamid Banday Vice-President and Zonal Head North Kashmir, thanked the Chairman and all the valuable customers of the bank present there.
In his remarks, Mr. Banday said, "We are striving hard so that our zone comes at par with other zones and even outside the state both in terms of technology driven services and the customer satisfaction".
Accepting the blame of customer inconvenience that happens at times; Banday said that the issue would be taken care of. He also said, "Once the new Common Services Centers (financed and established by J&K Bank), and branded as Khidmat Centres start functioning that too will help us in addressing the customer inconvenience." However, he asked for people's co-operation so that collectively the solutions to all the problems be found and implemented in letter and spirit.
A senior citizen Ghulam Rasool Bacha while summing up the meeting said, "Such positive meetings must happen regularly. For the conversations as candid as these are must to ascertain the difficulties on either side so that mutually beneficial solutions are found".
Dr Drabu is the most knowledgeable economist of the state and only he can give the right direction to the horticulture, SME's and other such sectors, he added.
All cluster heads of the zone, including Ghulam Rasool Hajam, Atta-ullah Makhdoomi and Riyaz Ahmad and other officials were also present on the occasion.
Scores of fruit growers, traders, representatives of various trade bodies, senior citizens and other valuable customers, attended the meeting. The interactions held were open, positive and healthy where in the both people and the Bank exchanged greetings, gratitude and grievances.
Calling it as "enlightened self-interest", Dr Haseeb A Drabu said, "When you prosper then only will J&K Bank prosper". We are a commercial bank but we are also a developmental organization of our state, he added. Enumerating the consequences strategic decisions executed by the bank Dr Drabu said, "Under the JK specific lending, the advance portfolio in the state has seen a spectacular leap from mere Rs.1200 crores to Rs.12000 crores in just four years. Besides, the credit - deposit (CD) ratio has rose from 20% to 65%".
Responding to one of the remarks made by the general Secretary of Fruit Buyers Association, Ghulam Rasool Wagay regarding the role of bank in the development of horticulture infrastructure, Dr Drabu said that the bank had practically persuaded many people to come forward for the initiative of setting up few Compressed Atmospheric Stores (CA Stores) that would enhance the quality maintenance standards of Kashmiri fruit besides running full page ads in the leading English daily about financing these.
Unfortunately, nobody came forward, he added. Commenting upon another query about crop insurance raised in the meeting, Dr Drabu said the bank had consulted various Insurance companies for tie-ups but all the companies had several reservations regarding the issue. But he re-assured the fruit growers that the bank would come up with some kind of crop-insurance in near future.
Speaking on the occasion Javeed Ahmed, a representative of FCIK, extended deep gratitude for the services rendered by the bank across the state and especially in the apple town of Sopore said that all the branches of the area are overloaded with work that affects the customer convenience. He made an on-spot request for few more branches in the Sopore Tehsil, which was duly responded to by the chairman during his address. Earlier, Abdul Hamid Banday Vice-President and Zonal Head North Kashmir, thanked the Chairman and all the valuable customers of the bank present there.
In his remarks, Mr. Banday said, "We are striving hard so that our zone comes at par with other zones and even outside the state both in terms of technology driven services and the customer satisfaction".
Accepting the blame of customer inconvenience that happens at times; Banday said that the issue would be taken care of. He also said, "Once the new Common Services Centers (financed and established by J&K Bank), and branded as Khidmat Centres start functioning that too will help us in addressing the customer inconvenience." However, he asked for people's co-operation so that collectively the solutions to all the problems be found and implemented in letter and spirit.
A senior citizen Ghulam Rasool Bacha while summing up the meeting said, "Such positive meetings must happen regularly. For the conversations as candid as these are must to ascertain the difficulties on either side so that mutually beneficial solutions are found".
Dr Drabu is the most knowledgeable economist of the state and only he can give the right direction to the horticulture, SME's and other such sectors, he added.
All cluster heads of the zone, including Ghulam Rasool Hajam, Atta-ullah Makhdoomi and Riyaz Ahmad and other officials were also present on the occasion.