Ever since its inception in 1975, the Regional Rural Bank (RRB) experiment in India has reached a figure of 196, catering to 492 districts with a branch network of 14,517.The book studies the performance of RRB in relatively poor states like Orissa. There are nine RRBs with 843 branches operating in Orissa and the study period is 1985-86 to 1999-2000.

The book traces the beginnings of rural credit in India and points out the significance of RRBs in a country where the All India Rural Credit Survey (Vol-1, Part 2) shows that moneylenders accounted for 68.6% of all rural lending in 1951.The rural credit policy, broadening of the institutional base, concept of direct lending, concept of priority sector, etc., are all explained subsequently. The new paradigms in rural credit like microcredit, Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), Local Area Banks (LABs), etc., are also briefly touched upon.

The chapter on evolution, growth and development of RRBs at the all India level is well discussed. The growth of RRBs, the working groups that expanded their role out of a narrow banking straitjacket, the Kelkar committee recommen dations, the beefing up of RRB capital by the government, the growth of RRBs in balance sheet volumes like deposits and advances are all subsequently covered.

Professional Banker Magazine, Operational Analysis, Regional Rural Banks, Local Area Banks, All India Rural Credit Survey, Rural Infrastructure Development Fund, RIDF, Non-Performing Asset Management, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, NABARD.