Guwahati: State Bank of India plans to set up 190 ATMs in tea garden areas of the State this year and around 40 of the places have been identified so far.

Informing this, SBI General Manager Suranjana Dutta said that there had been issues of non-availability of infrastructure to set up ATMs in tea gardens due to which the workers in many areas have been deprived of the banking services.

She was speaking at a conclave on 'Role of Banking and Microfinance Institute in North Eastern Region' organised by United News of India on Tuesday at NEDFI Convention Centre in Guwahati. She stressed the need for increasing financial literacy among the marginalised and poor to reap the benefit of financial inclusion.

Speaking on the occasion, NEDFI CMD P Murthy, stressed the need for State-specific schemes to boost the development of the region.

Inaugurating the conclave, Rajya Sabha MP Pabitra Margherita spoke on the importance of the banking system. "Banks are not just an institution for taking loans and keeping money. They are the driving force for economic development," he said.

In the panel discussion, a threadbare discussion took place on the banking process and issues surrounding the banking industry.

Dr. Abhijit Sharma, Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Bank Management, highlighted the need of including local bodies in the delivery mechanism of banking services.

Editor in Chief of UNI Ajay Kaul in his address said that the agency will organise more such events in other States of the region concerning the development of the last-mile people.