Nearly 1.4 lakh new accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) have been opened across the country since July 1, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) said on Tuesday. More than 5.4 lakh fresh enrollments under the three Jan Suraksha Schemes have also been recorded during this period.
The DFS has rolled out a three-month nationwide campaign, which began on July 1 and will run till September 30, to expand the reach of its flagship financial inclusion schemes — PMJDY, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY). The campaign aims to cover all Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies to ensure that every eligible citizen can access these schemes.
“The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to last-mile financial empowerment and greater socio-economic inclusion,” the finance ministry said in a statement.
In the first two weeks of the drive, 43,447 enrolment camps have been organised in various districts to register beneficiaries and promote financial literacy. Progress reports for 31,305 camps have been compiled so far.
The outreach campaign will cover about 2.7 lakh Gram Panchayats and urban bodies by September-end.
Additionally, the finance ministry clarified that the government has not issued any order to banks to close inactive PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts.
“In connection with reports appearing in the media that the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, has asked banks to close inactive PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts, the DFS has clarified that it has not asked banks to close inactive PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts,” the finance ministry said.
So far, over 55.44 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened in India, with women holding 56 per cent of them. Deposits in these accounts crossed Rs 2.5 lakh crore as of May 21 this year.