Kathmandu, September 6
Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari says the central bank has prioritised rural banking.
Speaking in a webinar organised on the occasion of the fifth death anniversary of Harihar Dev Panta, known as the father of microfinance in Nepal, on Sunday, Adhikari said the central bank, however, had halted issuing permits to new microfinance companies currently as their number was already excessive.
He suggested the microfinance companies working in rural areas should focus on enhancing the quality of their services now.
“We wish microfinance companies would provide foundations for livelihood for the poor in rural areas,” he said adding right persons should receive right services from the companies.
On the occasion, NRB’s former governor Ganesh Bahadur Thapa, however, said policymakers could not understand the importance of microfinance companies of late. He claimed the importance of such companies would be even greater now considering the Covid-19 impact on the poor population.
