Jan Dhan Yojana: Survey on financial inclusion status

The State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) has decided to take up a survey to ascertain the status of financial inclusion in the State, soon after the launch of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana scheduled on Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious scheme envisages providing bank accounts to every household. The account holder will also get a debit card and an insurance policy under the scheme. But the State does not have authentic statistics on the number of families that still do not have bank accounts. 

The scheme is set for formal launch across the country on Thursday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to launch it at a function in Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore. 

SLBC chief manager H K Prakash said that an estimated 75 per cent of the total 1.33 crore households in the State have been covered under the financial inclusion programme.

North Karnataka districts are presumed to be lagging behind in this regard compared to south and coastal districts, he added.

Hence, the SLBC, comprising about 50 nationalised banks, has decided to take up an intensive survey of all households to ascertain details about bank account holders. Retired bank employees and unemployed youth will be roped in for the survey.
 Respective banks will conduct the survey in their service areas with the assistance of district-level implementation committee under the scheme.

The survey is scheduled to be completed by September 15, he added.

He said lack of willingness to open bank accounts and constraints of accessibility were identified as main reasons for many people still remaining out of the financial inclusion plan.