Kupwara, Jan 20: Residents of Pohrupeth area in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district have appealed to the concerned authorities to establish a branch of J&K Bank in their locality to address persistent banking difficulties.
The residents said Pohrupeth is a densely populated area with the majority of people dependent on horticulture for their livelihood. They pointed out that frequent travel to distant places for basic banking services consumes both time and resources, affecting their daily work.
“Most of the people here are engaged in horticulture activities, which leaves them with little time to travel long distances for routine banking needs,” Dr Owais, a resident, told Greater Kashmir.
Another resident, Abid Maqbool, said the issue has been repeatedly taken up with the authorities. “We have submitted several representations to the district administration over the years. Even J&K Bank authorities had assured us that a survey would be conducted for establishing a branch here, but the survey is yet to be carried out,” he said.
The residents said Pohrupeth serves as a central village for the entire Pohru belt, making it a suitable and strategic location for a bank branch. They added that a branch at Pohrupeth would cater not only to the local population but also to more than 15 surrounding villages.
“We believe that opening a J&K Bank branch here would significantly ease day-to-day financial transactions and also help boost economic activities across the entire area,” the residents said.
They also pointed out that while a Grameen Bank branch was established in the area nearly two decades ago, it does not adequately meet the growing banking needs of the population. “The existing branch does not have an ATM facility, which further adds to the inconvenience faced by residents,” they added.
The residents have once again urged the J&K Bank authorities, along with the district administration, to take immediate steps to establish a full-fledged bank branch and install an ATM facility at Pohrupeth, saying the move would go a long way in easing the hardships faced by the people.
