‘Kerala banking sector enjoys good industrial relations’

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 21 (IANS) The banking sector in Kerala has the best of industrial relations, according to top bankers in the state.

This was disclosed by G.K. Maya, state convenor of the state-level Bankers Committee, which, for the past two days, has been deliberating at a state-level meeting here for generation of ideas and consultations under the auspices of the Centre's Department of Financial Services.

"We have had discussions with representatives of 18 public sector banks in Kerala at all levels. The unions in the banking industry were also invited and discussions have taken place. In Kerala, the banking sector has the best of industrial relations and there are no issues," Maya said.

"Over the past two days, we also had discussions with top state government representatives and the state government is also a key stakeholder . All in all, the talks have yielded very positive results and this will be conveyed to Delhi," she added.

Responding to questions on the demand raised by state Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunilkumar with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that very low-interest agricultural loans against gold should be restricted to Kisan Credit Card holders, Maya said the matter is under consideration and being discussed.

She also said that it was for the RBI to come out with guidelines, after floods struck Kerala for the second year in succession, on extending the moratorium on all agricultural loans which ends on December 31.

About the Mudra loan coverage in Kerala, Maya said a total of Rs 10,428 crore have been disbursed so far into 17 lakh Mudra loan accounts.