BHUBANESWAR:Banks operating in the State have mobilised a deposit of over Rs 411 crore from 5.36 million accounts opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), the massive financial inclusion programme of the Centre.
After launching of the financial inclusion programme in August last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all households of the State have been covered under the programme with at least one account holder in a family.
Latest data released by the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) said 53,60,784 accounts have been opened across the State till May 9 with collection of Rs 411.60 crore. Of the total new accounts, 31,97,640 are zero balance accounts.
While 38,23,399 accounts were opened in rural areas, banks have issued 42,28,793 RuPay debit cards for transaction of money through bank mitras (banking correspondents) while 33,25,444 debit cards (78.63 per cent) have been activated.
Banks have been advised not to refuse opening of new accounts under PMJDY and issue of RuPay debit cards. However, people who have opened accounts under the programme after January 26 will not get the benefit of life cover of Rs 30,000.
Claiming 100 per cent saturation (each household having at least one savings bank account), sources in SLBC said only eight districts - Jajpur, Boudh, Koraput, Angul, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Ganjam and Jharsuguda - have issued saturation certificate.
The State Government has been requested to direct Collectors of the remaining 22 districts to issue saturation certificates, the sources said.
Among public sector banks, State Bank of India leads the pack by opening 18,34,443 accounts followed by UCO Bank with 5,54,544 new accounts.
The regional rural banks (RRBs) have opened 9,41,199 accounts while private banks brought 1,09,946 persons under the financial inclusion programme.
Among private banks, HDFC has topped the list by opening 43,915 accounts while ICICI Bank has opened 34,578 new accounts.
The bankers’ committee has requested the Government to provide a list of people who have not been covered under PMJDY to the lead district manager concerned for opening accounts in their names.
To expand the coverage of banking network in unbanked gram panchayats, commercial banks had set up 372 new branches in the State during the last financial year.
Of the new branches, 251 branches were opened by public sector banks, while private sector banks and RRBs had opened 89 and 32 branches respectively.