EDB celebrates 34th Foundation day

Srinagar, July 16 (VOS): Ellaquai Dehati Bank celebrated its 34th foundation day on Monday in a simple but impressive function organized at the Head Office of the Bank.

Speaking at the occasion A K Razdan Chairman of the Bank said that the Bank has witnessed many ups and downs during the last 33 years but with the support of its patrons the Bank marched ahead on the path of progress. He said that our Bank has earned a name in the financial sector of the State and is providing banking as well as other financial services to its esteemed customers under single roof. The Bank is not only accepting deposits but is also providing loans for agriculture, business, transport, wellness industry, handicrafts, tourism industry besides the loans under Personal segments for construction/purchase of Houses, Car loans, consumer and personal loans. Bank is also selling SBI LIFE policies and Mutual Funds for better management of the customer’s wealth” Razdan said.  He said that the Bank is implementing all the programmes of the Central   and the State Governments and has some special schemes for the unemployed youth. Razdan said that our Bank is providing agriculture production loan at 7 percent rate of interest and has issued maximum number of Kissan Credit Cards at rural centres.  “There is no private share holding in our Bank and the Bank is jointly owned by the Govt of India, Govt of Jammu and Kashmir and the State Bank of India, the biggest commercial bank of the country” Razdan clarified.

Chairman appreciated the role played by the employees for efficient running of the Bank. “All the employees, present or past, have played an important role in shaping the future of the Bank and deserve appreciation” chairman said. He emphasized the need for putting more efforts in realizing the vision of the Bank i.e., to be the most preferred rural financial institution of the State.

EDB Gold Loan scheme was also launched in the valley. Launching the scheme chairman expressed his confidence about the success of the scheme as ‘people desire to retain the gold ornaments but also want to utilize them for business and consumption purposes’.

To mark the occasion, one of the oldest customer Professor Bassu was felicitated at the function.

SA Qureshi, General Manager (GB), Shri D N Bhat, General Manager (CR) and other senior Head Office functionaries were present at the function.

The foundation day was also celebrated at Regional Offices in Srinagar, Jammu and Anantnag also.

JK Bank holds financial literacy camps at Qaimoh, Shopian

Srinagar, July 16 (VOS): J&K Bank conducted financial literacy camps at Government Higher Secondary Institute, Qaimoh (Kulgam) and Government Degree College Shopian which were attended by hundreds of students along with the staff of respective institutions.

Principal higher secondary M Bashir Khan presided over the function in Qaimoh while as Principal College Nazir Ahmad Chirag was the Chief Guest at Shopian.

Discussing the importance and objectives of financial inclusion at Qaimoh, Incharge Financial Literacy & Credit Counseling (FLCC), Kulgam Abdul Rashid Hakeem urged the students to cultivate habits of saving so that their future remains safe and secure.

He talked about various banking products and schemes available for public in general and student community in particular.

Lead Bank Officer, Kulgam G M Dar informed the gathering about role of banks in upliftment of the society. He asked the students to be updated about the day to day global changes especially in banking sector.

Director JKBRSETI, Kulgam Mohammad Shafi Ayaz informed the audience about the importance of such camps in schools and other educational institutions and had an interactive session with the students.

Principal of the Institute, who presided over the function hailed the Bank for organizing such awareness camps and asked for organizing more such camps in future.

He told the students to avail the benefits of such camps and start opening their accounts in banks.       

Welcoming the participants at Shopian, In-charge FLCC Shopian M. A. Jan informed them about the objectives of the camp.

Lead District Manager Shopian, Mohammad Saleem Wani said that the programmes are aimed at sensitizing the common people about the various financial products and schemes meant for economic development of the people.

The visiting officers gave a detailed account of various products like Education Loan and Laptop finance for students, Housing Loan and Car Loan schemes for staff.

Insurance manager threw light on other financial services offered by the Bank particularly Life and Non-life insurance schemes.

Principal Chirag expressed his satisfaction over the programme and hailed the attempts of Bank in creating awareness among public.

Ajaz Ahmad Banday, Director RSETI, Shopian thanked the audience for participating in the camp and College authorities for extending full cooperation and support making it a success.

The camps concluded with a question-answer session in which the participants took keen interest and raised queries regarding the schemes which were clarified by the organizers. Some students were given gifts for their active participation in the program on the occasion.

Refreshment was also served to the participants on the occasion.

J&K Yateem Foundation’s 66 Lakh on Post Matric HESP-2012

Jammu, July 16 2012  :An amount of Rs 46, 000/ ( Rupees Forty Six Thousand) on account of 1^st instalment @ Rs 2000/-  was disbursed  among 23 beneficiaries including 07 female candidates  selected for the Higher Education Scholarship Programme HESP 2012 Jammu Division,  at a function organised by J&K Yateem Foundation’s Divisional Headquarter Kishtwar.

Alhaj Ghulam Rasool Sirwal, former Chief Education Officer , was the chief guest. Incharge Chief Medical Officer, District Hospital Kishtwar; JKYF CEC member Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat; JKYF District President Kishtwar Alhaj Abdul Hamid Kamal and other prominent citizens, also attended the function. The speakers highlighted the importance of education and enjoined upon the scholarship recipients to work hard and continue their studies for achieving the goal of their cherished careers.

HESP offers higher educational scholarships exclusively for orphan, poor & needy aspirants irrespective of their caste, creed, region or religion, seeking financial support to continue their studies from Matric onwards.

The students from Banihal, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Thathri, Banjwah and Padder received the scholarship amount who alongwith their attendants were also reimbursed to and fro bus fare, by the Divisional Headquarter.

75 candidates including 26 female students from three districts and five tehsils in Jammu Division had appeared in J&K Yateem Foundation’s 1st Annual HESP -2012 Entrance Examination in Jammu Division, on June 10 this year.

Since 2002, J&K Yateem Foundation has awarded 423  scholarships under HESP with over Rs 60.52 Lacs spent under the programme, in Jammu & Kashmir Divisions. Under HESP Professional 18 scholarships have been awarded incurring an expenditure of Rs 05.98 Lacs from 2004 to 2011, in Kashmir Division.

The scholarship amount is paid to the selected candidates out of General Donation exclusively and not Zakat Fund, by J&K Yateem Foundation, Central Office Srinagar.

Dr Farooq for introduction of new and renewable energy as a subject at KU

Inaugurates Youth Sports Hostel and Health club

Srinagar, July 16 (VOS): Realizing the need to train and mentor professional human resource in Valley in the field of renewable energy Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and Member of Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah has assured the University of Kashmir of his full support for the introduction of the discipline at KU.

While inaugurating new building of the Youth Sports hostel and health club of the Directorate of Physical Education and Sports University of Kashmir Dr Farooq Abdullah said “New and renewable energy besides addressing the growing energy needs has tremendous potential in changing the socio-economic landscape of our society and given its huge potential in the valley I will immediately take up the matter with my ministry in New Delhi for the introduction of a course in new and renewable energy at Kashmir University as has been introduced in other universities across the country.”

Extending his full support to the University in its quest for excellence and introduction of more and job-oriented courses in the campus Dr Farooq said “The subject of new and renewable energy and its exploitation for harnessing natural resources of energy has changed the entire world and we need such courses in our university so that our students may get professional training in the subject and learn how to tap natural and renewable sources of energy which is both cheap and environment friendly.”

Congratulating the University administration and its academia for providing quality education and overall physical development to the students in the face of tough challenges over the last two decades Dr Farooq said that he would approach the Union Ministry of Sports for getting special funds for the establishment of swimming pool and up gradation of infrastructure for the gymnasium at the University of Kashmir.

In his address Minister for higher education Abdul Gani Malik appreciated the University for signing some benchmark MoUs with some reputed national and international Universities and organisations which he said indicates a positive shift in the overall academic policy of the University in its strive to put the University on international map.

He said “It is a healthy development to see that some of the departments of the University have got international and national recognition and what is more encouraging is that the University has signed several MoUs over the last 2 years. However at the same time it is a responsibility of the University to guide private players who want to make an investment in the education sector at elementary level with their valuable expertise and inputs.”

Speaking on the occasion Vice Chancellor University of Kashmir Prof Talat while expressing his gratitude for various agencies who have funded the project said that the University is making its sincere efforts for bringing the University on international map and seeks continuous financial support from government and other quarters for the overall growth and development of the University.

While informing the Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah and others about various steps taken by the KU in popularising the use of renewable energy in the campus Prof Talat said “The University has already started switching over to renewable energy in some of its newly established buildings and departments and in future 3 girls hostels would be illuminated with 100KW of energy generated by renewable sources whereas 2 solar water heating systems are already in use at the boys hostel.”

Prof Talat said that the new building of the youth sports hostel will save the huge expenses which University had to incur for providing accommodation to players and participants from outside the state who would come to the valley to participate in different sporting events organised by University.

Director Physical Education and Sports Professor Basher Ahmed Khan also spoke on the occasion whereas Registrar University of Kashmir Prof S Fayaz Ahmad presented vote of thanks.

Pertinent  to mention here the four-storied Youth Sports Hostel hostel has residential capacity for 120 people and has been funded jointly by Union Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah under member of parliament local area development scheme, government of Jammu and Kashmir and UGC and so far around 5 crores has been spent on the project.

Khidmat Centres to provide on-line coaching, mobile recharge

Srinagar, July 16 (VOS): Jammu and Kashmir Bank today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with E-Resolute; a Srinagar based Tech Company, for offering various on-line services through its wider network of Khidmat Centres to the people particularly those living in far off places.

The agreement was signed by Nazir Ahmed Bhat, J&K Bank Vice-President (CSC Project) and Kashif Khan, CEO E-Resolute in presence of G M Sahibzada, Executive President of the Bank.

With the signing of this agreement the company shall now provide a bouquet of services like on-line coaching, mobile and DTH re-charge and sale of solar lights to customers online through the Bank’s 700 Khidmat Centres set up till date.

Speaking on the occasion, Executive President G M Sahibzada hoped that the tie up shall be highly beneficial particularly for the people of fall flung areas of the state as it would bring the services to their doorsteps and save their time, energy.

 “These services have been added owing to good response to on-line coaching service of the company and more services of the company shall be added in accordance with the people’s response”, said Vice-President CSC Project.

Kashif Khan thanked the Bank for such a huge opportunity and said “Our Company could not have got the better channel than Khidmat Centres to take our services to the people especially in rural areas of the state as Khidmat centres are suitably located and equipped with the requisite infrastructure to provide our services.” 

Notably, the company is already offering on-line coaching for competitive exams through selected Khidmat Centres, the statement said.