The SKOCH award for Financial Inclusion 2011 was conferred on National Housing Bank for rural housing. The two dedicated Schemes of NHB viz. Golden Jubilee Rural Housing Finance Scheme, a market based Scheme and Rural Housing Fund, a subsidy based Scheme for the weaker sections have expanded the scope of rural housing credit in the country and have resulted in improved institutional depth in providing housing credit delivery in rural areas. They have demonstrated the viability and sustainability of rural housing finance and in a more tangible manner have resulted in construction and improvement of rural housing stock.

The award was presented by Dr K.C. Chakrabarty, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India in the presence of Dr C. Rangarajan, Chairman, Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council and other distinguished guests to Shri R.V. Verma, CMD, NHB and his team during the Financial Inclusion Day Celebrations held on January 5, 2011 at New Delhi. The Award ceremony was preceded by a Banker’s Conclave on Financial Inclusion wherein Shri R.V. Verma highlighted the synergy between inclusionary housing and financial inclusion besides stressing NHB’s renewed emphasis on low & moderate income and rural housing.