Udaipur, 18 December (Udaipur Kiran) — Udaipur MP Dr. Mannalal Rawat has urged the Central Government to relax existing norms for opening banking outlets in tribal regions and ensure banking facilities within a 2.5 km radius instead of the current 5 km. He raised the demand in Parliament under Rule 377 on Thursday.
Dr. Rawat said his Lok Sabha constituency is predominantly tribal, with scattered settlements and hilly terrain, resulting in severe gaps in banking infrastructure. Several large villages across Udaipur, Salumbar and Pratapgarh districts still lack nationalised bank branches.
He highlighted that villages such as Kalyanpur, Bawalwara, Kanbai (Udaipur), Jawad, Chawand, Parsad, Geengla, Sallada, Jhallara, Kharka (Salumbar) and Moongana (Dhariyawad, Pratapgarh) have long been demanding access to banking facilities.
Dr. Rawat noted that the Centre has been promoting saturation-based development in tribal areas through various schemes, including the Dharati Aba Janjati Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. Special relaxations under PMGSY have also helped expand basic infrastructure in difficult terrains.
He argued that while the government’s target is to ensure a banking outlet within 5 km of every village, this standard is impractical for tribal zones due to rugged geography, dispersed population and limited transport options. Reducing the limit to 2.5 km would significantly strengthen financial inclusion and make services more accessible for local traders, farmers and residents.
Dr. Rawat requested the government to provide practical relaxations in the norms for opening nationalised bank branches in tribal belts so that equitable and convenient banking facilities can reach remote communities.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.