BHUBANESWAR: The State has shown overwhelming response to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY), a comprehensive financial inclusion scheme, by registering nearly five lakh new bank accounts.
More than 62,000 accounts have been opened on the launching day and about 50 launching events were organised in the State, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said, while unveiling the logo of the scheme with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here.
Though the banks operating in the State were given a target to open 4.53 lakh accounts by the Centre, more than five lakh accounts have been opened under the scheme.
Assuring all support from the State Government for the gigantic task of covering unbanked households, Naveen said commercial banks operating in the State have been given a target to open brick and mortar branches in all unbanked gram panchayats by March 31, 2019.
For accommodating the branches, banks will be provided Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendras free of cost for five years, he added.
Oram said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream to digitise the whole nation had come true with the launch of this programme. The Digital India and PMJDY will go hand-in-hand and this will immensely benefit the rural poor.
The Union Minister said all ITDAs (Integrated Tribal Development Agencies) have been asked to cooperate with the banks and bring more tribals under financial inclusion programme.
The financial inclusion scheme aims at covering all households with direct transfer of Government benefits like pension, scholarships and other incentives through banking facilities, ensuring a bank account for each household and `one lakh insurance benefit.
Those who open accounts before January 26, 2015 will get additional insurance benefit of `30,000.
According to State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), over 4.97 lakh accounts were opened in the State till August 27 through 3,010 camps.
UCO Bank has opened 89,720 accounts followed by State Bank of India with 81,276 new accounts.
Finance Minister Pradip Amat and senior officers of the State Government also spoke on the occasion.