Leading lenders told to provide easier loans on priority to labour-intensive sectors The government has asked leading banks to assess credit offtake in some of the most labour intensive sectors in the wake of demonetisation and push for easier loans on a priority basis, a move that comes amid concerns over potential negative impact of the cash crunch. Sectors including textile, leather, footwear, gems and jewellery, and construction are under the scanner, government officials said. The industry department along with the financial services department plans to hold a meeting with the banks, ministries concerned and industry representatives in the coming week to further discuss the matter. “We want to push all such sectors which employ a large number of people, especially since many have suffered losses during the demonetisation exercise,“ said a senior government official, who did not wish to be identified. The government will assess credit offtake in these sectors and ask the ba