Spreading the banking net wide is one of the key policy focus areas of the Modi administration and the launch of the scheme within 100 days of the government signals its commitment to take on the challenge of executing mega programmes.
The Jan Dhan Yojana, the massive financial inclusion drive, aims to open 7.5 crore bank accounts and provide banking facility to the vast segment of the population which still remains cut off from the financial system. Under the scheme, a person opening an account will get a Rupay debit card, a Rs 1 lakh accident insurance policy as well as a Rs 30,000 life insurance cover.
The facility of an overdraft would be added to the accounts after keeping a watch on the credit history and operation of the accounts for six months. The government had to defer the facility as banks had expressed concern over the move.
"If Mahatma Gandhi worked to remove social untouchability, if we want to get rid of poverty, then we have to first get rid of financial untouchability," Modi said in his extempore speech which drew loud applause from the audience. "We have to connect every person with the financial system. And for that this programme has been given impetus," he said, adding, "when a bank account is opened, it's a step towards joining economic mainstream."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils the logo of Jan Dhan Yojna in New Delhi, on August 28, 2014. (TOI photo by Amrendra Jha)
Speaking in his trademark style, Modi took the opportunity to drive home broader message behind the programme to fight poverty. Using anecdotes from his life, the PM highlighted the importance of savings, financial discipline, shoring up governance and managing big ticket government programmes.
Cabinet ministers and chief ministers fanned out across the country on Thursday to launch the programme simultaneously from 600 locations. More than 77,000 camps were set up by banks to open accounts and finance minister Arun Jaitley announced that the government will achieve the target of opening 7.5 crore accounts before January 26, 2015, well ahead of the earlier schedule of August 15, 2015.
The PM said the nationwide success of the enrolment drive on Thursday would give confidence not just to the officials of the finance ministry and the banking sector, but also to those across the government, that they can achieve goals they set for themselves. "Never before would insurance companies have issued 1.5 crore accident insurance policies in a single day. Never before in economic history would 1.5 crore bank accounts have been opened on a single day," Modi said.
Ahead of the launch, the PM had reached out to 7.25 lakh bank employees urging them to help reach the target of 7.5 crore bank accounts, and bring freedom from financial untouchability. Lauding the efforts of those behind the launch, the PM said the day was a festival to celebrate the liberation of the poor from a poisonous cycle of exorbitant interest rates
Modi recalled the bank nationalization of 1969 but said the objective of bringing people to the economic mainstream had not been achieved. "After 68 years of independence, not even 68 per cent of India`s population had access to banking," he said. He said it is easy for the rich to get a loan at low interest rates but the poor are forced to seek loans from moneylenders at five times the rate charged to the rich. "Is it not the responsibility of the banking industry to provide banking access to the poor?" he asked.
He said a breakthrough was required to overcome the vicious cycle of poverty and debt and it had been achieved with the launch of the financial inclusion programme.
The PM said there were similarities between the poor getting access to mobile telephones, and getting debit cards as both had the effect of instilling confidence and pride.
Modi referred to an ancient Sanskrit verse which puts the onus on the state to involve people in economic activity. "This government has accepted this responsibility," the PM said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Narendra Modi,Jan dhan Yojana,Insurance for Poor,Bank Account for Poor,Bank Account for All Indians
Stay updated on the go with The Times of India's mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Big bang start: Record 1.5 crore bank accounts opened in a day
Dengan url
http://sehatnyasusu.blogspot.com/2014/08/big-bang-start-record-15-crore-bank.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Big bang start: Record 1.5 crore bank accounts opened in a day
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Big bang start: Record 1.5 crore bank accounts opened in a day
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar