Port Blair, Dec. 4: The Andaman & Nicobar State Cooperative Bank Ltd. has launched Cooperative Cards to be issued to the old, widows and physically challenged persons to receive their pension amount. The aim of issuing cooperative cards is to reduce the hardship faced by the needy, who struggle to reach the banks for withdrawal and receipt of their money.

At a formal function organised at the Community Hall, Shadipur today at 10.30 am, wherein Shri Aberdeen Blair, Chairman, Tribal Council was the chief guest, the MD of the Bank Shri Ravinder Rao explained that such activities are being undertaken under the Corporate Social Responsibility of the bank. Ravinder said, our bank is not just to make profit but aims to provide service to the needy.

The MD said that the idea of introducing Cooperative Cards came up when he along with the Chairman of the Bank had made a visit to all its branches across the islands. Upon observing the needy and physically challenged waiting in queue for hours to get their benefits, the Chairman had decided to make the bank work to serve such needy and helpless. The idea thus was implemented and many needy & helpless have been provided with the facility.

The MD also explained that the bank will soon be introducing Core Banking Service, which would help connect with all other ATMs. There are also plans to provide the best service to the customers provided by other nationalised banks viz. e-banking etc.

The Vice Chairman of the Bank Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma in his address congratulated the staff and management of the bank for having undertaken the task to target the needy and helpless. He said that the bank has set an example to all other banks when it comes to Corporate Social Responsibility.

“I can understand the kind of suffering these helpless members of the society have to undergo. Being a social and political worker, many such people come to my doorstep and narrate their sorrow. They said they have to go to the bank several times to enquire and receive their pension amount”.

In Port Blair city, said Sharma, we have transportation facilities which enables people to reach the banks as many times as they want but the situation is pathetic in the remote and rural areas where people spend the entire day to receive a pension amount of Rs. 1000/-. The Cooperative Cards will now enable such people to receive their pension amount at their doorstep.

Sharma further said that he was touched by the difficulty faced by the challenged persons who receive a meagre amount of Rs. 1000/- as pension. He thus raised the issue with the Lt. Governor and made a request to increase the amount to Rs. 3000/-.

Further explaining about service to the needy, Sharma said the Bank has also decided to reach nurses and doctors to the doorstep of the ailing people. The Vice Chairman said that work is on in this regard and soon it would be materialised.

Among the others who spoke on the occasion were Smti. Shanta Singh, Social Worker and the Manager NABARD.