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50 Years of Regional Rural Banks: Assam Vikash Gramin Bank Unions Launch RRB Golden Jubilee Celebrations
Assam Vikash Gramin Bank unions celebrated the 50th anniversary of the formation of Regional Rural Banks with a lecture in Guwahati. The event emphasised RRBs' alignment with gram swaraj and with an aim to inspire younger employees to understand RRBs' vital role in rural India’s economy.
Author: Saurav Kumar
Published: October 29, 2024
Marking the 50th anniversary of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) in India, the Assam Vikash Gramin Bank Officers Association (AVGBOA) and the Assam Vikash Gramin Bank Employees Association (AVGBEA) organised a lecture programme on October 26, 2024, at the Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture in Guwahati. The event provided a platform to reflect on the essential role RRBs have played in advancing rural financial inclusion and development.
Renowned social scientist Dr. Akhil Ranjan Dutta, Professor of Political Science at Gauhati University, and Mr. Mayur Bora, acclaimed author and former Deputy General Manager at NABARD, headlined the event. Both speakers offered their perspectives on the significance of RRBs in India’s socio-economic landscape.
Image Courtesy: Samiran Medhi
Dr. Akhil Ranjan Dutta presented a lecture titled “Gandhiji’s Idea of Gram Swaraj and the Relevance of Regional Rural Banks,” while Mayur Bora addressed the “Role of Regional Rural Banks in the Rural Economy.”
Image Courtesy: Samiran Medhi
The program opened with a spirited Gana Sangeet performance by officers and employees of AGVB. The event drew a total of 186 participants, including AGVB officers, employees, retired staff, and leaders from the Bank Employees Federation of India (North Eastern Region), along with representatives from fraternal organisations such as Bank of Baroda, UCO Bank, and Central Bank of India.
Gram Swaraj and the Role of RRBs
In a conversation with Kanal, Dr. Akhil Ranjan Dutta said, “Gandhi’s idea of gram swaraj offered a people-centric alternative to Western civilisation, which focuses on wealth and its accumulation. In contrast, gram swaraj is rooted in the empowerment of people and communities.”
He added, “RRBs today hold immense relevance in the spirit of gram swaraj by economically empowering rural populations through schemes that support agriculture, livestock rearing, and more, fundamentally transforming rural livelihoods.”
AVGBEA General Secretary, Samiran Medhi noted that the parallel drawn between gram swaraj and RRBs resonated strongly with the audience. Speaking to Kanal, he said, “M.K. Gandhi’s concept of gram swaraj, as explained by the speaker, aligns closely with the purpose and mission of RRBs in India. Created to support rural communities, RRBs strive to promote financial inclusion by meeting the unique needs of villages, offering credit for agriculture, small businesses, and local development.”
Image Courtesy: Samiran Medhi
Significance of Golden Jubilee Celebration
The event was organised in line with AIRRBEA’s resolution to honour the milestone journey of gramin banks. Samiran Medhi emphasised the importance of this celebration, saying, “The younger generation of RRB employees must develop a profound understanding of India’s rural landscape and the critical role that RRBs play in advancing the rural economy. Such awareness will strengthen our commitment to the ongoing struggle for the formation of a National Rural Bank of India.”
The golden jubilee celebrations, set to continue nationwide over the coming year, aim not only to honour past achievements but also to inspire resilience and a forward-looking vision. Recently, AIRRBEA units in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu also launched their year-long celebrations for this milestone.