Jamshedpur, March 29 Nabard Chairman Shaji K V inaugurated a Rural Business Incubation Centre funded by the bank at XLRI-Xavier School of Management here.
The rural business incubation centre is the first such National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard)-funded incubator based in an Indian business school.
Tata Steel CEO & MD T V Narendran, who is also Chairman of the Board of Governors, XLRI-Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, also attended the inauguration of the rural business incubation centre on Saturday, XLRI, in a statement said.
The Nabard chairman also participated in a programme at Gaurdih LAMPS, where he launched a membership drive and handed over sanction letters under the e-Kisan Credit Card (e-KCC) initiative, enhancing institutional credit access for farmers, an official statement said.
Addressing the gathering, he said, "India's economy is growing at a robust pace; however, rural growth still needs greater momentum. Institutions like PACS and FPOs can act as engines of this growth by promoting credit access, enterprise development, and livelihood diversification, including dairy, fisheries, and other MSME sectors.
"Going forward, our focus should be on strengthening PACS as multi-service centres, deepening credit through cooperative channels, leveraging digital platforms such as e-PACS and e-KCC, and ensuring greater awareness and inclusion at the grassroots level."
He also witnessed live usage of e-PACS by PACS officials and a demonstration of FPO products enabled with blockchain-based traceability.