Kolkata, 12th September 2025

 

Vartalap, a regular outreach programme of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), was organised today at Krishnanagar, Nadia district, with a focus on Financial Inclusion and Cyber Security in the banking sector. The initiative, which PIB conducts across various districts to engage with the local media and provide updates on governance and development, drew wide participation from journalists and representatives of banking and developmental institutions.

 

The programme commenced with Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam plantation drive, led by Shri T.V.K. Reddy, Director General (Eastern Zone), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) and Ms. Jane Namchu, Additional Director General, Ministry of I&B, PIB, along with other dignitaries present. Following this, Shri Reddy formally opened the session by underlining PIB’s mandate in disseminating authentic information on government policies, decisions and initiatives. He recalled PIB’s timely role during Operation Sindur as an illustration of the Bureau’s ability to deliver verified information in times of crisis.

 

The workshop began with presentations from eminent speakers. Shri Anup Dungdung, Lead District Manager, Punjab National Bank, highlighted the success of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana in widening access to formal banking channels and urged the media to play an active role in popularising inclusive financial practices. Addressing queries about loan denials faced by fishermen and pisciculturists, he emphasised on transparency and adherence to lending norms at the grassroots level.

 

Shri Shaikat Dey of NABARD spoke on the institution’s contribution to breaking the hold of informal moneylenders and advancing financial literacy. He semphasised on the safe banking practices must be ingrained at the community level and pointed out that frauds can be averted by recognising legitimate bank calls through official codes such as 160 and 140. He also cited NABARD’s Financial Inclusion Fund and its partnership with Punjab National Bank in running five Financial Literacy Centres in Nadia district.

 

Dr. Debdut Ghosh Thakur, Senior Editor, ABP, while acknowledging that the workshop’s focus was on financial inclusion and cyber security, shared insights from his own experience with flagship government programmes like Swachh Bharat and Clean District initiative. He discussed public health challenges such as arsenic poisoning and drew attention to sustainable, traditional water-harvesting methods. He noted that Bangladesh had successfully adapted a JU-developed technology to achieve arsenic-free water, underscoring the value of knowledge transfer and indigenous practices in public welfare.

 

PIB regularly organises these district-level press meets to familiarise local journalists with the initiatives of the Centre and help enable accurate, responsible reporting. This edition, held in Krishnanagar, Nadia focused especially on the twin challenges of financial inclusivity and cyber security in rural banking. Vartalap closed with a common refrain: policy gains must be consolidated through sustained community engagement, inter-institutional coordination and continuous public information. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, where reporters’ queries were answered by the resource persons. This was followed by a short presentation on PIB’s activities and its role in supporting district-level journalism. The programme ended with the distribution of participation certificates to all attendees.

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SSS / RS

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