Residents of the export hub of Gasuapara in South Garo Hills district met the area manager of Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank (MCAB) with a demand to set up a branch in their area.
Gasuapara is the primary hub of export to neighbouring Bangladesh in Garo Hills with coal, stones among others being exported from India into the neighbouring country.
“We submitted a memorandum yesterday to the area manager seeking the opening of a branch in Gasuapara. There is already an existing building that can be used to set up the branch which will benefit thousands of people of the area,” said SN Sangma, the vice president of the Gasuapara Area Citizens Forum.
Residents said there were 186 VECs in the Gasuapara C&RD Block and huge businesses catering to export of coal with more than 140 farmer’s society along with eco tourism society besides government offices that need the bank’s services. The area, they said, could be a huge opportunity for banking.
“There is only one bank that caters to the needs in Gasuapara but there is a need for more banking infrastructure in the area. There is no issue of security and infrastructure, with a two storeyed building with six rooms already present. We submitted a memorandum seeking the set up of a branch of MCAB,” added ADE members from SGH, general secretary Tigana Sangma and vice president, Kalgros Marak.