NEW DELHI: In the wake of severe floods in Tamil Nadu, the Department of Financial Services on Thursday issued guidelines for banks and other financial institutions, asking them to take all necessary steps to extend every possible help to the affected people.
“Due to floods, bank branches and ATMs might be affected, therefore, the banks are requested to ensure that ATMs are functional and in places where they are not, while alternative mechanisms like mobile ATM, ATM vans and mobile ATMs mounted on boats may be used,” said the guidelines.
The banks may also put their employees’ along with laptops to facilitate withdrawals in localities themselves.
The guidelines also directed that as banks are implementing agency for the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Suraksha BimaYojna and the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan JyotiBimaYojana, the banks are required to appoint a nodal officer for each bank as a whole as well as for specific districts, and their telephone numbers should be publicised so that the general public is aware as to whom should they contact.
Banks are told to indicate daily progress in the format used for disaster relief purposes.
The guidelines also directed all public sector general insurance companies and LIC to take immediate action and nominate a senior level officer as nodal officer in the state for coordinating and expediting the settlement of claims that are reported in the state.
The contact numbers of the officer needs to be communicated to the department.