The Manipur State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM) and Punjab National Bank (PNB) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen rural livelihoods through improved financial inclusion. The agreement was signed on Monday at the New Secretariat in Imphal in the presence of senior officials from both sides. The MoU focuses on providing easier access to savings accounts, credit linkages, and banking services for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across Manipur, especially in remote and underserved areas. Officials said the collaboration will directly support the state government’s Lakhpati Didi programme, which aims to empower women by enabling them to earn sustainable incomes.
Smt. N. Bandana Devi, IAS, State Mission Director of MSRLM, and Shri Vinay Kumar, Zonal Manager of PNB’s Guwahati Zone, represented their respective organisations at the signing ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, Vinay Kumar reaffirmed PNB’s commitment to supporting women-led SHGs. “This partnership will ensure SHGs have better access to financial services and credit. By doing so, we will help more women move towards becoming Lakhpati Didis, capable of achieving steady and sustainable incomes,” he said. As part of the agreement, PNB will simplify account-opening procedures, strengthen credit linkages, and appoint eligible SHG members as Business Correspondents (BCs) in unbanked areas. Officials said this will help extend banking services to the last mile, ensuring financial access even in the most rural blocks.
Senior PNB officials, including Shri Manasij Chakraborti, Circle Head, Imphal; Shri Vivek Kumar Bunwal, Chief Manager; Shri Vinayak Das, Chief Manager; and Shri Thokchom Abuncha Singh, Senior Manager, joined the event along with MSRLM representatives.
