Bhubaneswar, Sep 9 (IANS): If people can't go to banks, the banks will come to them, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said on Wednesday while announcing that mobile banking would be introduced in all blocks of the state for the benefit of farmers.

The state government would introduce the 'Bank on Wheels' programme in all blocks of the state that would benefit families of 55 lakh farmers, said the chief minister after inaugurating the programme initiated by the Odisha State Cooperative Bank (OSCB) here.

He said that most of the panchayats do not have banking facilities, and the initiative to provide banking facility in tribal-dominated areas would immensely help the people.

Patnaik also directed the state cooperative department to prepare a roadmap to ensure hassle-free loan to farmers.

While the contribution of Odisha's cooperative banks catering to loan needs of farmers is 70 percent, the national figure was a mere 17 percent, he added.

He also inaugurated the Rupay Debit Card system of OSCB that would enable card holders to withdraw money from 1.88 lakh ATMs across the country.