Bay News Network, Visakhapatnam: Nabard which came into being in 1982 is celebrating 30th year of its functioning on 12 July 2012. Nabard was set up as a Development Bank to promote sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural prosperity through effective credit support, related services, institution development and other innovative initiatives informed KVSSLV Prasada Rao, Asst. General Manager, Nabard at Press Club.

He further added Nabard in Andhra Pradesh has been forefront in financial and development activities. The major achievements during 2011-12 were as Disbursement under production credit was at Rs. 5422 Cr, registering a growth of 51% over last year inclusive of sanction & release of Rs. 56.95 cr to Commercial Banks (CBs) for financing PACS under SAO. The disbursement under investment credit touched Rs. 2369.80 Cr., Rs. 1352 Cr was sanctioned to GoAP under RIDF XVII stood at fifth highest in the country.  Disbursement under RIDF was at Rs. 1028 Cr stood at fifth highest in the country.

He further said Implementation of ‘Maa Thota’ Programme Nabard has taken it under its Tribal Development Fund with a view to improving quality of life of the tribal community by providing sustanable livelihood through natural resource management.

He added Umbrella Programme on Natural Resource Management (UPNRM) Diriven by the objective of enhancing rural livelihoods through improved natural resource conditions, Nabard with support from the Government of Germany has launched an innovative funding facility. The programme aims at assisting community managed sustainable NRM based rural livelihood projects, through loan based financial products with need based add-ons in the form of grant for skill and capacity building and some other infrastructure supports based on the merit of the project. The guiding principles of the programme are pro-poor orientation, sustainability, community participation, good governance and integrated and need based approach.