An immediate goal which you must focus is on spurring your financial inclusion initiatives. There are vast untapped areas in India’s hinterland where banking services are yet to reach. Even after implementation of our first round of Financial Inclusion Plans by banks, close to three and a half lakh villages remain unserved by banks.
A separate press release presenting this decision and some background information on standardised deductions from the reserve base will be issued to you here today. The Governing Council today approved the ECB’s budget for 2000, which gives the ECB the green light to recruit further staff needed to support the ongoing activities of the ECB.