Even 40 years after nationalisation of banks in 1969, 405 villages in 14 districts of Gujarat still do not have banking facilities.

The State level Bankers committee has decided to cover these villages in the financial inclusion scheme. The SLBC, while mapping the bank branches in the state, discovered that 14 districts did not have bank branches. Kutch and Dang district topped the list with 108 villages.

The sources said, "Kutch and Dangs districts are large in terms of area. Moreover, the number of small villages with small population is high." It is not feasible for banks to open branches in these villages. However, the banks would cover this as a part of Corporate Social Responsibilty, added the sources.

Mukesh Kumar Jain, convener of SLBC said that every village in the state would be covered under the banking system by March 2011. He added that they planned to implement it in three phases.

A high level committee on Lead Bank Scheme constituted formed by RBI has recommended expanding the scheme to cover financial inclusion.

Based on the report, the apex bank has advised the lead bank to set up a committee of the District Consultative Committees (DCCs) to draw up a road map by March 2010 to provide banking services through a banking outlet in every village with population over 2,000 by March 2011.