Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday urged all banks to speed up the clearance of students’ credit card applications.

The state government had launched the students’ credit card scheme in July.

“The cooperative banks are initiating steps. But there are some other banks. May I request all of you? The matter has been discussed with you by the chief secretary…. My humble request to all my friends from the banks, please do something speedily so that proposals are cleared as early as possible,” the chief minister told a programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium, where credit cards were distributed among students.

“They (students) will feel happy because they are the future of the country.”

The state, she said, will be the guarantor in each case.

Under the scheme, a student can get a loan up to Rs 10 lakh at a nominal interest rate to pursue studies.

The announcement, teachers said, was aimed at pleasing the teens, most of whom will become voters by 2024 Lok Sabha polls.