Guwahati, Jan 09: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Assam Regional Office organized a day-long workshop on Combating Cyber-enabled and KYC Frauds and Investment and Treasury Management for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and State Cooperative Banks (StCBs) in the North-Eastern Region.
The programme aimed to strengthen cybersecurity frameworks and improve risk management practices among Rural Financial Institutions (RFIs) in North Eastern Region.
The event was graced by Shri Harmeet Singh, IPS, Director General of Police, Assam, as the Chief Guest. The workshop commenced with a symbolic tree plantation by DGP, Assam Police, reflecting NABARD’s commitment to sustainability and growth.
Shri Loken Das, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Assam Regional Office warmly welcomed Shri Harmeet Singh, IPS, Director General of Police, Assam, Shri Akhilesh Kumar Singh, IPS, Inspector General of Police (Law & Order), Assam along with other key dignitaries to the workshop.
In his welcome address, CGM, NABARD spoke about the importance of building cyber-resilience and creating strong cyber awareness among bank officials, particularly at the branch level. He reiterated NABARD’s commitment to supporting banks through capacity-building initiatives and technological interventions.
Shri Akhilesh Kumar Singh, IPS, Inspector General of Police (Law & Order), Assam, in his address, emphasized on the need for collaboration between banks and Law Enforcement Agencies to tackle cyber-enabled crimes effectively. He pointed out that timely reporting and information sharing can significantly reduce the impact of such frauds.
In his keynote address, Director General of Police, Assam highlighted the growing challenges posed by cybercrime in the banking sector and stressed the need for a balanced approach that combines advanced technology with human intelligence and intervention.
He emphasized that cyber threats are evolving rapidly and require coordinated efforts between Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and Financial Institutions to safeguard the interests of rural customers.
A highlight of the event was the active participation of the Domain Experts Team from CSITE, NABARD, Head Office, Mumbai, led by Dr. Nalin K. Rai, AGM, whose leadership anchored the deliberations.
Alongside senior officials from the Reserve Bank of India, CSIRTFin, CERT-In, CERSAI, and Bharat Cores, the team delivered deep, practice‑oriented insights on regulatory compliance, KYC/AML frameworks, and industry best practices.
Officials from CID (Cyber Crime Cell), Assam Police, including Shri Saurav Jyoti Saikia, SSP, CID (Cyber Crime), Assam Police and Shri Krishnadwaipayan Nath, Dy. SP, CID (Cyber Crime), Assam Police, stressed the urgency of acting within the “golden period” of 24–48 hours to block fraudulent transfer of funds.
Thereafter, Senior Officials from SBI DFHI Ltd., Corporate Office, Mumbai conducted sessions on Investment and Treasury management. The workshop concluded with an interactive experience-sharing session and valedictory remarks by Shri Sunil Kumar Jha, Deputy General Manager, NABARD, Assam Regional Office.
The event reaffirmed NABARD’s commitment to empowering Rural Financial Institutions in NE Region through knowledge sharing, capacity building, and technology adoption, paving the way for a secure, resilient and inclusive rural financial ecosystem in the region.
