Latest news with #UmaMahadevan
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
State's total credit plan outlay for FY'26 set at ₹11,88,986 crore
The total credit plan outlay of Karnataka for the current fiscal, 2025-26, has been set at ₹11,88,986 crore, at the 169th State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) meeting held at the Vidhana Soudha here on Thursday. Of this plan outlay, the priority sector's (comprising agriculture, micro, small and medium enterprises, export credit, education, housing, social infrastructure, and renewable energy) credit requirement would be ₹4,38,016 crore, 36.84% of the total credit, for the current fiscal. Of this, agriculture would have a credit share of ₹2,22,204 crore, claiming 50.73% of the priority sector credit, crop production loans ₹1,40,108 crore, MSME credit ₹1,90,891 crore, education loans ₹2,222 crore, housing loans at ₹11,678 crore, while other sectors' credit for the year would be ₹11,022 crore. The meeting was chaired by Uma Mahadevan, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Government of Karnataka, who also launched the Annual Credit Plan (ACP) for FY2026. Ms. Mahadevan said there was a need for universal coverage under social security schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY). She also urged all banks to onboard IIBF-certified (Indian Institute of Banking & Finance) NRLM (National Rural Livelihoods Mission) SHG women as banking correspondent sakhis, thereby enhancing last-mile delivery of banking services. She commended the efforts of SLBC, RBI, NABARD, and all participating financial institutions for their collaborative efforts in the formulation of the ACP. She encouraged effective implementation of the plan to achieve the credit targets and promote inclusive and equitable growth across Karnataka. At the SLBC meeting, S.K. Majumdar, executive director, Canara Bank, instructed banks to dispose of the pending applications of government-sponsored schemes well within the timelines. Also speaking on the occasion, Vishal R., Secretary to Government (FR), Finance Department, GoK, stressed the importance of coverage of all eligible population under the ambit of Jan Suraksha schemes. Sonali Sen Gupta, Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India congratulated all stakeholders on the timely conduct of DCC/DLRC meetings, and Surendra Babu, Chief General Manager, NABARD appreciated stakeholders for the launch of ACP in line with NABARD'S Potential Linked Plan.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
AI innovation and inclusion initiative launched
Microsoft and the International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore (IIT-B) launched their new collaborative effort, 'A4I —The AI Innovation and Inclusion Initiative', to advance the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in creating a more inclusive and impactful solution for underserved communities. The event was held at the IIT-B campus and was attended by senior members of Microsoft Philanthropies. Uma Mahadevan, Development Commissioner of Karnataka, joined virtually as the Chief Guest and spoke about the growing potential of AI usage in development and sustainability in education and healthcare. 'We shouldn't aim to reach people at the 'last mile' but rather right from the start, we should be even more ambitious in demanding solutions from technology. AI has the potential to solve problems in human development. With it, we can allow even the illiterate and semi-literate population to contribute at the local level.' The corporate vice-president and global lead of Microsoft Philanthropies, Kate Behncken, also spoke, highlighting the rapid technological growth in the education, healthcare, and agriculture sectors due to the 'AI economy' and how Microsoft plans to utilise it. 'Our main goal is skilling, we aim to skill 10 million people in India by 2030, which will lead to the creation of 2.73 million jobs locally. With it, we can reshape economies and how people live and work.' Through this initiative, Microsoft and IIIT-B will work closely to build a framework for partnerships and sustained scaling and support. The goal is to foster an ecosystem that nurtures AI-driven innovations for long-term societal impact. 'The impact of AI on society will depend not only on its technological sophistication but also on our ability to scale its benefits equitably,' said Debabrata Das, director, IIIT-B. 'A4I will be a flagship initiative within our Centre for Accessibility in the Global South, strengthening our commitment to developing and scaling digital solutions that address some of the pressing challenges faced by our communities.'
