Guwahati, March 21 (IANS): Nationalised banks operating in Assam needs to play a pro-active role for the development of the state and increase the credit-deposit ratio, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said here on Saturday.

"The process of availing loans by the common man must be simplified and made hassle-free... the banks must work upon it... The common man must get more access to banks. This will ensure more economic prosperity," Gogoi said in a statement.

He said the credit-deposit ratio of the banks in Assam is much lower than the national average and they need to play an active role in the "overall development" of the state instead of confining themselves to "business alone".

Gogoi said the banks need to provide financial assistance to the women self-help groups (SHGs).

"The women SHGs are doing exceedingly well and have good records of repayment of loans. They are managing their finances well by keeping their records properly. The banks must extend assistance to such SHGs to prosper financially," he said.

According to the statement, deputy managing director of State Bank of India M.G. Vaidya said more efforts would be made to reach the benchmark of 60 per cent credit-deposit ratio in the state from the present 45 per cent.

Vaidya said SBI has disbursed loans to the tune of Rs.3,800 crore to small-scale enterprises and cottage industries in the state.