CM Majhi Urges Centre to Ensure Bank Branches in All Odisha Gram Panchayats
Raises Concern Over Banking Gap at Eastern Zonal Council Meeting
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has appealed to the Centre to direct banks at the apex level to establish brick-and-mortar branches in all unbanked gram panchayats (GPs) across the state. The request was made during the 27th Eastern Zonal Council meeting held in Ranchi on Thursday.

As per a statement released by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Majhi raised the issue in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who chaired the meeting attended by top officials and leaders from Eastern Indian states.

Highlighting the stark rural banking gap in Odisha, Majhi pointed out that out of the state’s 6,794 gram panchayats, only 2,421 currently have physical bank branches. A total of 4,373 GPs remain without access to any formal banking facility.

“Banking services are vital for implementing welfare schemes, direct benefit transfers, and financial inclusion. The absence of physical bank branches in rural areas is a major hindrance to inclusive development,” Majhi said.

He emphasized that mere digital or mobile-based financial services cannot fully replace the need for physical banking access in remote and tribal-dominated regions of Odisha.

Majhi’s proposal received attention during the meeting, which is aimed at fostering cooperation among Eastern states on governance and development matters. The Odisha government is hopeful that the Centre will take up the matter seriously and push for expansion of banking infrastructure to ensure last-mile delivery of financial services.