Lahiri says banks must do more to unlock Bengal industry
In short
Ashok Lahiri of NITI Aayog said banks should do more than just lend if Bengal is to grow industrially. He pointed to a low credit-deposit ratio in Eastern India and said banks should help businesses get finance.
He said this matters for infrastructure, industry and small firms. The reporting does not say whether any policy changes or bank steps were announced.
What the reporting says
NITI Aayog vice-chairman Ashok Lahiri said banks must go beyond lending to help unlock Bengal’s industrial potential. The Economic Times summary says he pointed to a low credit-deposit ratio in Eastern India and argued that banks should connect businesses with financial resources, support infrastructure, industrial expansion and MSMEs. The specific policy response or any immediate banking action was not stated.
Why it matters
Ashok Lahiri of NITI Aayog called on banks to support businesses beyond basic lending, citing a low credit-deposit ratio in Eastern India. He said banks could help infrastructure, industrial expansion and MSMEs by linking firms with finance and structured credit. The piece is about the banking system’s role in regional development, but it does not report any new measure, target or timeline.