Bank finance for rural artisans

Credit being a dynamic input in the process of economic development, in recent times; Commercial Banks are playing a vital role in financing rural artisans activities in our country. It is being criticised that the thrust was more on agricultural lending than on assisting the rural artisanal activities. The collection articles included in this volume highlight the issues: relating to theory, policy and practice of bank credit in relation to Rural Artisans. The articles included in this volume, attempts to provide as insight into the place of rural artisans in our rural economy in general and rural indus trialisation in particular, their credit needs, sources of credit, the extent to which bank finance can help the process of rural industriali sation by assisting them and various types of credit available to rural artisans, the gaps and the ways in which they can be filled. Most of the articles are based on the field level-data available with Lead Banks, other Commercial Banks and survey of artisan households. The profiles of rural artisans with special reference to their financial needs and access to institu tional credit are dealt with analytically in this book. The articles in this book emphasise the need for effective credit planning incorporating an efficient credit-deployment strategy and needed changes in credit delivery through Commercial Banks, to meet the credit needs of Rural Artisans.