Arghakhanchi, Jan. 15: The Paschimanchal Grameen Bikas Bank (Western Rural Development Bank) has opened its branch office in Arghakhanchi district.

The Rural Development Bank branch office plans to provide collateral-free loans to the tune of Rs 30,000 to the maximum to rural women through the women’s groups for animal husbandry, small businesses, vegetable farming etc, according to bank’s director Dhurba Khatri.

The women drawing loans from the bank can repay it in several instalments, it is learnt.

At a programme organised in Arghakhanchi to celebrate the opening of the bank, MP Dilli Raj Khanal asked the local people to provide full cooperation to the bank in its programmes.

Nepali Congress central member Rewati Prasad Bhusal said that the bank, established with the efforts of the Nepali Congress government, would assist the government in its poverty alleviation programme.

Nepali Congress Central Women’s Department member Pushpa Bhusal expressed the confidence that the bank would help in improving the socio-economic status of the rural women.

The bank has its branch offices in 13 districts of the Western Development Region and it is learnt to have benefited some 66,000 rural women by providing them collateral-free loans.