Institutional credit support still low in Telangana: Report

Despite the focus on financial inclusion, 50.6 per cent of the credit requirements are being catered to by money lenders in Telangana, according to Telangana Social Development Report (TSDR) 2017.

The report, first of its kind among the states, has been released formally by Etela Rajender, Minister for Finance, Government of Telangana here on Friday.

Referring to the findings of the report, Rajender said the State might have overall higher per capita income but there were severe disparities and inequalities as pointed by the SDR.

The share of commercial banks and cooperative societies in providing institutional credit is still low as their reach is limited only to 16 per cent and 9.3 per cent respectively, according to the report.

There is inadequate income for disadvantageous sections of the society as the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the youngest state of the country still depend on borrowing to meet their expenditure.

On the basis of data pertaining to a decade from 2001 to 2011, the TSDR points to increase pressure on the State capital, Hyderabad, as its accounts for 30 per cent of total urban population. However, the State still has predominant rural tilt as 61 per cent of population still live in rural areas.

There is huge scope for digitisation. Less than 10 per cent of households in all district except Hyderabad have computers while in Hyderabad it is higher at 26 pc.

The sex ratio was declining in the zero to 6 age group. It fell from 957 to 933 during the decade under study.

The report was prepared by the Southern Regional Centre, Council for Social Development.