Reply: Yes, our bank has formed a women empowerment section for helping and developing the leadership skill through the following ways:

• To assist Existing / Prospective Women Entrepreneurs to Start / Establish / Run Enterprises successfully by leading the business.
• To reach potential Women Entrepreneurs, Undertake Counselling, Provide Training, personality development programme, Facilitate Financial Assistance and Provide Marketing Support.

Reply: Yes, Canara Bank has established FLCs to Educate people specially women in rural and urban areas with regard to various financial products and services available from the Bank. Also Bank is mapping the identified Skilling centers (ITI) and local schools in the villages to impart Financial Literacy to all the students through FLCs by organizing Financial Literacy training camps/sessions. Financial literacy activity of the Bank aims at providing basic financial knowledge to the villagers including women in simple and understandable ways. Bank has established Canara Financial Advisory Trust (CFAT) to monitor the FLCs.

Reply: Yes, through its Women Empowerment Section bank is providing Business counselling to Prospective / Existing Women Entrepreneurs, sensitizing women on Entrepreneurship by organizing Entrepreneurship Awareness Programs (EAPs), Workshops etc., conducting General / Skill Entrepreneurship Development Programs (EDPs) for Women from different target groups and organizing Career Guidance Programs for College Girl Students and Seminars on Women related issues.

Reply: Yes, our bank is providing interest concessions on loan & advances to women under educational loan, vehicle loan & other retail loans. Apart from that bank is providing interest rate concession under agriculture & MSME products also.

Reply: Yes, Canara Bank has introduced “Canara Vidya Jyothi” scheme as per the vision of our founder Sri Ammembal Subba Rao Pai “A good Bank is not only the financial heart of the Community but also has an obligation of helping in every possible manner to improve the economic condition of the common people”. This has been the guiding principle for the Bank’s CSR activities. Attending to the needs of the poor is always a noble cause.

It is also a humble homage to Bharat Ratna Dr. B R Ambedkar, who propagated education as the basic need for meaningful development and to encourage education among girl children from socially and economically backward communities, where school dropout has been high. “Canara Vidya Jyothi’ Scheme was launched during 2013-14 to extend scholarship to SC/ST Meritorious Girl students from Rural areas under CSR initiatives. Further, from 2015-16 it was extended through our rural, semi-urban & Urban branches

CRITERIA:

• The scheme shall be implemented mandatorily by all Rural, Semi-urban & Urban Branches.
• The Branches shall extend the scholarship assistance to one meritorious girl student each from class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 from SC/ST communities studying in Government / Government aided schools in their command area.
• The scholarship assistance is Rs. 3000.00 per student per year for students of 5^th, 6^th and 7^th
• The scholarship assistance is Rs. 5000.00 per student per year for students of 8^th, 9^th and 10^th

Reply: Yes, our Bank's CSR initiatives has made a profound difference through its various projects. Across all activities, the total number of beneficiaries served amounts to approximately 239,864 individuals in last 03 years, showcasing the extensive reach and effectiveness of our bank's efforts. This includes significant contributions to healthcare, education, and community development.

Looking forward, the estimated total number of beneficiaries over the next five years is projected to exceed 613,887, highlighting our commitment to sustaining and expanding its impact. Additionally, our bank's CSR activities have successfully generated a total of 362 livelihoods, demonstrating the tangible economic benefits provided to communities. These figures reflect our bank's ongoing dedication to addressing diverse social needs and fostering positive change through its CSR programs.

Highlights of the CSR initiatives & strategic approach towards it:

a. Education Sector:

Over the past three years, there has been a substantial increase in funding, growing from ₹544.00 lakhs in FY 2021-22 to ₹1,227.00 lakhs in FY 2022-23, and further to ₹2,611.00 lakhs in FY 2023-24. This dramatic rise reflects the bank’s commitment to enhancing educational opportunities, especially in underserved areas, aligning with their objective of fostering long term societal development through education.

b. Health Sector:

The Health sector saw varied funding levels over the three years. In FY 2021-22, it received a substantial allocation of ₹1,359.00 lakhs, likely in response to urgent healthcare needs, possibly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

c. Poverty & Nutrition:

Funding for Poverty & Nutrition initiatives has consistently increased, starting from ₹157.00 lakhs in FY 2021-22 to ₹474.00 lakhs in FY 2022-23, and reaching ₹700.00 lakhs in FY 2023-24. This trend indicates a growing focus on addressing basic needs and improving the nutritional status of vulnerable populations.

d. Rural Development:

Rural Development funding has also seen a steady increase, with allocations rising from ₹99.00 lakhs in FY 2021-22 to ₹199.00 lakhs in FY 2022-23, and then to ₹384.00 lakhs in FY 2023-24. This consistent growth highlights the bank’s dedication to enhancing rural infrastructure and supporting sustainable development in rural areas.

e. Sports, PWD, Environment Protection & Other Miscellaneous Activities:

This combined category has shown a significant increase in CSR funding over the years, from ₹378.00 lakhs in FY 2021-22 to ₹774.00 lakhs in FY 2022-23, and reaching ₹1,374.00 lakhs in FY 2023-24. This broad category likely includes diverse initiatives aimed at promoting sports, supporting persons with disabilities (PWD), environmental protection, and other miscellaneous activities, reflecting a holistic approach to CSR.

f. Women Empowerment:

The funding for Women Empowerment initiatives has remained relatively stable & in increasing trend: ₹67.00 lakhs in FY 2021-22, ₹100.00 lakhs in FY 2022-23, and ₹99.00 lakhs in FY 2023-24.

Reply: Yes, with objectives of:

• To assist Existing / Prospective Women Entrepreneurs to Start / Establish / Run Enterprises successfully.
• To reach potential Women Entrepreneurs, undertake counselling, Provide Training, Facilitate Financial Assistance and Provide Marketing Support.

Functions at Head Office:

• To allocate Budget to ‘Centre for Entrepreneurship Development for Women – (CED for Women)’ under AF&PS Section at all Circles and monitoring its utilization.
• To Review, Monitor & consolidate the performance of CED for Women at Circles, including all ROs and place a note to Wing Head on a calendar Quarterly basis.
• To Compute & ascertain the accuracy of the flow of credit to Women
• To report Flow of Credit to Women to the Reserve Bank of India, Ministry of Finance & provide the same for the Board Note on calendar quarterly basis.

Functions of CED for Women under FI Section at Circles:

• To provide Business counselling to Prospective / Existing Women Entrepreneurs.
• To sensitize women on Entrepreneurship by organizing Entrepreneurship Awareness Programs (EAPs), Workshops etc.
• To conduct General / Skill Entrepreneurship Development Programs (EDPs) for Women from different target groups.
• To organize Canara Utsav, free Marketing Support to upcoming Women Entrepreneurs.
• To organize Career Guidance Programs for College Girl Students and Seminars on Women related issues.
• To provide assistance to Women Entrepreneurs for preparing project report to avail loans from Banks.
• To guide Women Entrepreneurs on availability of Concession/ Assistance/ Resources/ Information for setting up of Business (both Manufacturing & Service Industries).
• To associate with Voluntary/Government agency working towards Women Empowerment for furthering the cause of Women Entrepreneurship Development.
• To ensure image building of the Institution by publishing the events.
• To ensure Recognition / Reward Successful Women Entrepreneurs from time to time.

Reply: Yes, Canara Bank is also recruiting women as business correspondent.

Reply: Yes, the self-help groups (SHGs) & JLGs for women can play a crucial role in shaping rural women’s potential into concrete developmental outcomes of financial inclusion, livelihood diversification, and skill development.

Scheme for SHG:

DAY-NRLM promotes affinity-based women Self Help Groups (SHGs). Women SHGs under DAY-NRLM consist of 10-20 members. In case of special SHGs i.e., groups in the difficult areas, groups with disabled persons, and groups formed in remote tribal areas, this number may be a minimum of 5 members

Revolving Fund DAY-NRLM, MoRD, will provide Revolving Fund (RF) support as corpus ranging between ₹20,000 - ₹30,000 per SHG to strengthen their institutional and financial management capacity and build a good credit history within the group. SHGs in existence for a minimum period of 3/6 months and follow the norms of good SHGs known as ‘Panchasutras’, viz., regular meetings, regular savings, regular internal lending, regular recoveries and maintenance of proper books of accounts, and which have not received any RF earlier will be eligible for such support.

Credit facilities to SHG members:

 In order to facilitate women SHG members to graduate to entrepreneurs, banks may consider extending loans up to ₹10 lakhs to individual members of select matured well performing SHGs

Reply: Yes, Canara Bank has introduced Platinum Women Debit Card with cash withdrawal facility of Rs.1.00 Lakh & at POS Rs.5.00 Lakh.

Reply: Yes, bank is providing training programmes through its 38 RSETIs & 27 RUDSETIs in many States of the Country by specially focusing on the women and primarily targeting rural unemployed youth from BPL. Imparts training in programmes like General EDP (Exclusively entrepreneurship), Product EDP (Pickle Making, Papad making, etc.), Process EDP (Beautician, Tailoring, etc.) and Agricultural Sector.

Reply: Yes, there are many schemes for women which are as follows:

a. Canara Stree Shakti:

Purpose: To finance individual Women SHG members of selected matured well performing DAY NRLM SHGs to graduate them as Women entrepreneur.

Eligibility: Women Member from matured well performing DAY NRLM SHGs. (WSHGs more than 2 years old and have accessed at least one dose of Bank loan with timely repayment). Member with minimum 2 year of business record. Beneficiaries shall be identified & sourced by NRLM/SRLM.

Nature of limit: Term Loan/Working Capital Limit

Quantum of loan: Minimum: Above Rs. 50,000/- Maximum: Rs. 5,00,000/-

Repayment period: Term Loan: 5 Years including 3 months’ repayment holiday Working Capital: 12 months’ tenability

b. Matsya Parirakshan:A scheme to Finance fisher women to meet recurring expenses from Rs.5,000 to Rs.50,000, payable in 35 months in form of term loan.

c. Matsya Samruddhi: A scheme to finance women SHG/JLGs for fresh fish vending, dying, salting, net making, feed production, carrying vehicle purchase etc. in form of revolving CC & Term Loan from Rs. 50,000/- to Rs.10.00 Lakhs.

d. Canara Mahila Vikas Scheme:

Purpose: To meet business related needs including purchase/ construction of business premises, machinery, equipment, vehicles and working capital requirements of women under Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises including Retail Traders.

Eligibility:

• Enterprises owned by women complying with the MSME guidelines
• Individuals, Proprietorship concern, Partnership firm, LLPs, Corporate bodies owned and managed by women. In case of Partnership Firm/LLPs/Private/Public Ltd companies, partners’ capital/share capital of minimum 51% with women shall be considered as units owned by women.
• Business entities (existing/proposed) that have completed 2 years of business operations and having a satisfactory track record with the existing banker for last 2 years.
• Minimum CIC score of promoters in individual capacities (i.e. consumer CIC scores) from any empanelled credit bureaus should be 650 (or above, including -1/unrated cases).

Nature of Facility: Term loan and/or Working capital by way of Overdraft facility

Quantum: Above Rs. 10.00 lakhs

Margin: Working capital limit – 20% Term loan –Term loan: 20% on the hard cost of the project cost. Soft cost to be borne by the promoters from their own sources.

e. Stand-Up India (Credit guarantee cover under CGSSI):

Purpose: To provide assistance of over Rs.10.00 Lakhs and up to Rs.100 Lakhs inclusive of working capital extended under Stand Up India scheme to a single eligible borrower without obtaining any collateral or third party guarantee.

Cover: The scheme to cover loans granted under Stand Up India scheme is known as “Credit Guarantee Scheme for Stand Up India (CGSSI)”. CGSSI shall be maintained and operated by NCGTC. The fund shall provide guarantee cover to the extent of 80% of the amount in default for credit facility above Rs.10 Lakhs and upto Rs.50 Lakhs, subject to a maximum of Rs.40 Lakhs. For credit facility above Rs.50 lakhs and upto Rs.100 Lakhs –

Rs. 40 Lakhs plus 50% of the balance amount in default above Rs.50 Lakhs subject to overall ceiling of Rs.65 Lakhs.

Eligibility:

Eligible borrower means Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Women Entrepreneurs, above 18 years of age, setting up green field enterprises in non-farm sector. In case of non-individual enterprises, minimum 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake should be held by either SC/ST and/or Women Entrepreneur/s.

Only accounts satisfying the following eligibility criteria shall be considered for reporting under Stand Up India scheme. Units which are eligible to be classified under MSME as defined in MSMED Act, 2006. Loans granted to SC, ST or Woman entrepreneur who are above 18 years of age. In case of non-individual enterprises, 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake should be held by either SC/ST and/or Women Entrepreneur.

Loans granted for establishment of greenfield enterprises in non-farm sector. Existing units cannot be covered under the scheme. Loans / Limits sanctioned above Rs.10 Lakhs and upto Rs.100 Lakhs. Loans granted under PMEGP above Rs.10.00 lakhs shall be covered under Stand Up India. Only composite loans, i.e., Term Loan and Working Capital, are permitted under the scheme.

Nature of Facility: Only composite loans, i.e., Term Loan and Working Capital, are permitted under the scheme.

Quantum: Rs.10.00 Lakhs to Rs. 100.00 lakhs

f. Canara Angel--Women Specific Saving Deposit Scheme:

Reply: Yes, Canara Bank is implementing the fair recruitment process for Women without any discrimination.

Reply: Yes, Canara Bank has implemented the impartial process of promotion where providing equal opportunity to the women employees, also encouraging the promotion process by providing the suitable placements on transfer to the women employees. In case where both husband & wife are in our bank, our bank is taking efforts to accommodate the both at nearby places. In case of other women employee whose spouse is working other than our bank, bank is also taking care of the transfer of those employees nearby their spouse working place subject to transfer policy norms and availability of vacancy.

Reply: Yes, Canara Advaitha is a women’s empowerment committee at Canara bank. It has been formed to promote diversity, equity, and inclusive growth at the bank which includes women representatives from all levels of the bank with the Tagline--- “Empowering the future, change makers set the pace for future. Samarth bhavishya ki ore, Samarth bhavishya de kade namma nade.”

Reply: Yes, by implementing sexual harassment policy, providing leadership opportunities to women employees, practical equal pay, career advancement opportunities, eliminating gender pay gap and providing childcare support, bank is taking efforts to create a good working environment for women employees. Mentorship programme for women employees upto executive level.

Reply: Yes, Canara Bank is following the principal of eliminating gender pay gap and bringing the equality among the employees.

Reply:

• Yes, to protect the women employees against sexual harassment at workplace and for prevention and redressal of the complaints bank has brought broad guidelines /procedures in tune with The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, duly approved by the Board of Directors, which enumerates formation of Internal Committee (IC) at each Circle and Head Office.
• IC has been formed at each Circle and Head Office and the contact details (including Mobile Number, e-mail id, etc.) of each IC is updated in intranet and is accessible to all employees. Any aggrieved woman can submit a complaint to the Presiding officer either through written complaint or through SMS.
• The presiding officer of the concerned IC at Circle Office/Head Office, will also act as a Relationship Officer of the Circle/Head Office in the matter to assist women employees.
• Bank is ensuring strict compliance of the provisions of the Act. In addition, workshops and webinars are being conducted to create awareness about the existing guidelines to prevent such instances. Apart from this external training programs, training session on POSH Act is also included in all the training programs conducted internally.

Reply: Yes, in Canara Bank sabbatical leave is available including the women employees for the following purposes:

• For pursuing higher studies both inland as well as abroad
• Health grounds for self/dependent family members
• Joining the spouse
• Taking care of family or children

Eligibility:

Who have put 5 years of active service & confirmed employees. However, it can be availed as extension of Maternity Leave in which the minimum eligible service of 5 years in the Bank shall not be mandatory.

Period of leave:

Minimum period of leave 1 year which can be extended up to 02 Years.

Reply: Yes, it is available up to 06 months in any occasion. Not more than 12months during the entire service The coverage is also provided upto Rs. 50,000/- for normal delivery & Rs. 75,000/- for caesarean delivery.

Reply: Yes, there are many schemes for women which are as follows:

a. Crèche Facility:

Crèche facility is available for women at 5 centres viz. Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata in compliance of Sec 11 A of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. However, availing the facility of crèche is not encouraging, therefore Bank has introduced other facilities like Child care allowance to facilitate the women employees who are unable to avail crèche facility.

b. Child Care Allowance:

• All Female Employees who are not availing crèche facility shall be eligible for reimbursement of expenses on child care facilities for maximum of 2 dependent children upto the age of 2 years.
• A consolidated amount of Rs.2000/- (Rupees Two Thousand only) per month (per child) upto the age of 2 years shall be paid as Child Care Allowance.

c. Dasara Festival: Navratri serves as a celebration of female empowerment. Navratri is also considered dedicated to women power. Girls are worshipped on the day of Durgashtami and Mahanavami on the occasion of Navratri as they are considered to be the form of Goddess Durga. With this belief Canara Bank is celebrating the DASARA Festival under the guidance of ADVAITA COMMITTEE (All female members) in a grand manner every year.

Dasara festival is celebrated with all its gaiety and glamour in most of the States of India. During the period of 9 days the main attraction will be the display of Dolls, representing our rich culture, history, tradition, religious and social aspects of life. This display of Dolls is commonly known as “Navaratri Gombe Pradarshana” [Dolls exhibition]. The Dolls are normally made by Women Micro Entrepreneurs. They make beautiful idols and dolls with Clay Soil, Metal, Terracotta, Wires etc. and sell them through personal contacts and exhibitions. In our Bank Also Women Empowerment Section [WES] has been organising the exhibition of Navaratri Dolls for all the 9 days, every year. On the final day the dolls displayed will be available for sale. The Entrepreneurs will be getting good orders also during this period from our staff and this way they will be benefitted too.

d. Women’s Day celebration: Our bank is celebrating Women Day on 8^th March, every year to extend heartfelt felicitations to all the remarkable/extraordinary women in the society.