Awareness campaign on financial inclusion, cyber security at Krishnagar
The Statesman | 15 September 2025
Against the backdrop of rapid technological penetration in India’s hinterlands and the parallel rise of digital frauds, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) yesterday convened its regular outreach initiative Vartalap in Krishnagar, Nadia district, with a sharp focus on financial inclusion and cyber security in the rural banking sector.
The programme, which drew wide participation from journalists, banking professionals and development officials, opened with the symbolic Ek Paid Maa Ke Naam plantation drive led by TVK Reddy, director general, eastern zone, ministry of information & broadcasting, and Miss Jain Namchu, additional director general (M&C), PIB, alongside local dignitaries.
In his inaugural remarks, Mr Reddy underlined PIB’s mandate of disseminating authentic information on government policies and programmes, recalling the Bureau’s crucial role in countering misinformation during “Operation Sindoor.” He urged local media to continue acting as a vital bridge between policymakers and citizens.
The technical sessions saw expert interventions. Anup Dungdung, lead district manager, Punjab National Bank, highlighted the achievements of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana in expanding access to formal banking, while also responding to queries on loan denials faced by fishermen and pisciculturists. Stressing transparency at the grassroots, he called upon media representatives to popularise inclusive financial practices.
Shaikat Dey of NABARD elaborated on the institution’s role in reducing dependence on informal moneylenders and expanding financial literacy. He urged communities to adopt safe banking habits, noting that frauds could often be avoided by identifying legitimate calls through official banking codes. He also referred to NABARD’s Financial Inclusion Fund and its collaboration with Punjab National Bank in running five Financial Literacy Centres in Nadia.
Bringing in a broader social perspective, media person Dr Debdut Ghosh Thakur, reflected on the lessons of flagship programmes like Swachh Bharat and the Clean District initiative. He linked public health challenges such as arsenic poisoning to the importance of sustainable water-harvesting practices, noting Bangladesh’s adoption of a JU-developed technology for arsenic-free drinking water as a successful example of knowledge transfer.
The programme closed with an interactive session where local journalists’ questions were addressed by the panellists, followed by a presentation on PIB’s role in strengthening district-level journalism. Participation certificates were distributed to conclude the event.