Bhubaneswar, Feb. 29 -- Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today launched 2000 CSP Plus outlets under 'Ama Bank' to provide banking services in all unbanked panchayats of the State.

Financial inclusion is the foundational premise of social and economic progress and empowerment of people. No country or state can ever attain inclusive growth without achieving financial inclusion for its people. Reaching out to the people at the bottom of the pyramid and delivering public services to the last mile fairly and transparently has been the highest priority agenda of the Government.

However, financial inclusion has remained a challenge as the geographical penetration of banks in the State has been rather dismal. About 65% of total gram panchayats do ...