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Advances to Weaker Sections and SC/STs MACRO ECONOMIC PROFILE

1.90 During 2013-14, an amount of `43,437 crore has been disbursed to 45,84,421 beneficiaries of
weaker sections in the state. Corresponding figures in 2012-13 was `35,935 crore to 41,22,926 ben-
eficiaries indicating 21 percent of growth in the amount sanctioned. During 2013-14 the advances to
SC/STs was ` 6014 crore to 4,85,378 beneficiaries against `4155 crore to 3,54,048 beneficiaries
in the previous year. There is 44.7 % and 37.1% increase in the total amount sanctioned, and number
of beneficiaries compared to the previous year.

Micro finance

1.91 Micro finance indicates financial services for people who have no access to typical banking
services. It generally targets poor women. Micro finance programmes send a message to households
as well as to communities by providing access to financial services through making women responsible
for loans, ensuring repayment through women, maintaining accounts for women, providing insurance
coverage through women. In Kerala, there were more than 5.08 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs)
maintaining their savings bank accounts with ` 1,091 crore in various banks as on March 2014,
against 2,397 crore in 2012-13(SLBC:2014). During 2013-14 there is a decrease of 54.5 percent
in the amount of SHGs Savings Account while the number of SHGs has an increase of nearly15.5
percent.

District –wise analysis of Banking Statistics

1.92 The district-wise details of banking statistics in Kerala (Fig:1.13) reveals that Ernakulam district
with 872 branches holds the largest number of branches followed by Thiruvananthapuram with 632
branches. In Wayanad and Idukki districts, the credit intake exceeded the deposits (Appendix 1.47).
The disbursement of credit against deposit in Pathanamthitta district was very low with the C.D ratio
of 30.13 percent.

Fig 1.13
District Wise Bank Branches in Kerala

Districts

Economic Review 2014