Your editorial (?Stalled at 15 km?, May 13) is incorrect. RBI?s circular does not restrict the distance between a business correspondent (BC) and bank branch to 15 km: ?The distance between the place of business of a BC and the base branch, ordinarily, should not exceed 15 km in rural, semi-urban and urban areas. In metros, the distance could be upto 5 km. In case a need is felt to relax the distance criterion,the matter can be referred to the District Consultative Committee (DCC) for approval. Where such relaxations cover adjoining districts, the matter may be cleared by the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), which shall also be the concerned forum for metros. Such requests may be considered by the DCC/SLBC on merits in respect of underbanked areas or where the population is scattered over large area and where the need to provide banking services is imperative but having a branch may not be viable, keeping in view the ability of bank…?
?Subrata Das, Mumbai