PM’s Jan Dhan Yojana to bring transperency in govt schemes: Anandiben

Ahmedabad, 25 August 2014

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel admired Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conceptualizing Jan Dhan yojana.

Speaking at convocation function of chartered accountants in Ahmedabad’s Tagore hall on Monday, Anandiben said: A day before yesterday when I went to meet Narendrabhai, various subjects were discussed during half an hour meeting. The government of India is going to launch Jan Dhan yojana on 28 August. Under this yojana, in entire country not a single person will be left out without his/her own bank account. The banks are given this task across the nation. First priority for opening new bank accounts has been given to women. There was a prime minister in the past who used to say that when Government of India sends one Rupee to village, only 15 paisa reach there actually. Now here is the prime minister who is going to ensure that entire amount should reach to beneficiary on the ground. Money released under all state and central government schemes will be deposited directly to poor person’s account to bring transparency. It is Narendrabhai’s vision that every single Rupee released by government from Delhi will reach directly to beneficiary person.”

Anandiben in her speech said: “Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) fund is meant to be used for poor class, but for last 15-16 years I have observed that CSR money is used just to make bills. And therefore we decided that the state government will itself collect CSR from all companies and form a committee to utilize CSR money for uplifting of poor. Such committees are formed.”

Anandiben further said: “Major companies with crores of Rupees of CSR just do some task of primary school renovation, sewing machine distribution in five six villages around the factory. This is not enough. Companies must donate at least 1.5 to 2% CSR. The state government is going to give priority to toilet building work through CSR money received from companies. CSR money will also be spent for nutrition drive.”

PM’s email to all bank officers

• Bank account for each household is a “national priority”

• Try your best to ensure that no one is left without a bank account

• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana to be launched across the nation on August 28th: every account to get a debit card and Rs. 1 lakh accident cover

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has written an email to all bank officers, referring to his Independence Day announcement of the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana – the National Mission on Financial Inclusion with the objective of covering all households in the country with banking facilities, and having a bank account for each household.

Describing the task as “gigantic,” the Prime Minister said, “We need to enroll over 7 crore households and open their accounts. This is a national priority and we must rise to meet this challenge. There is an urgency to this exercise as all other development activities are hindered by this single disability. I am sure we will overcome this situation collectively.”

The Prime Minister has urged bank officers to “put your shoulder to the wheel and try your level best to ensure that no one is left without a bank account. This itself will be a source of immense satisfaction for you and your teams. I will myself recognize the achievements of the best performing branches.”

The Prime Minister said: “The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana lies at the core of our development philosophy of Sab Ka Sath Sab Ka Vikas. As we move rapidly forward in this knowledge era with modern banking and financial systems, it is untenable that a large majority of our population is deprived of basic banking facilities. I sometimes wonder whether we have made matters so complicated that the poor and the marginalized are those who are trapped in a perpetual cycle of exclusion and deprivation. We need to break that cycle and the Jan Dhan Yojana is the first step in that direction. With a bank account, every household gains access to banking and credit facilities. This will enable them to come out of the grip of moneylenders, manage to keep away from financial crises caused by emergent needs, and most importantly, benefit from a range of financial products.”

As a first step, under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, every account holder gets a RuPay debit card with a Rs 1,00,000/- accident cover. “As we go along, they will be covered by insurance and pension products,” the Prime Minister said.

“I am confident that you will rise to the occasion and contribute to this national endeavour in significant measure. I am there to support you,” the Prime Minister added.

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana will be launched on 28 August, 2014 across the nation simultaneously. The Prime Minister will launch it formally in Delhi, with parallel functions at the state level which will be attended by Union Ministers, and also at district and sub-district levels. Camps are also to be organized at the branch level.