Mysuru still far from 100 per cent financial inclusion

Authorities confident of ensuring one account per family by Dec 10

While banks have achieved more than 90 per cent progress under Jan Dhan Yojana (JDY), distribution of RuPay cards, which is one of the key features of the accounts under the scheme, has been kept pending.

The issue came to the fore following queries raised by Chamarajanagar MP R Dhruvanarayan, during a meeting of District Vigilance and In-charge Committee, regarding Centrally Sponsored Schemes, here on Saturday.

Lead Bank Manager, K N Shivalingaiah, informed that following the launch of the Yojana on August 28, a total of 2,21,215 accounts have been opened in the district, ensuring that more than 90 per cent of the families in the district have bank accounts. 

M Satish, nominated member of the Committee, said that even though bank accounts have been opened, beneficiaries under the scheme have neither been provided passbooks, nor RuPay cards.  Reacting to the same, Shivalingaiah said that “about 82-83 per cent” of the account holders have been distributed cards. 

The Centre has set a deadline of December 10 to ensure that all families have at least one bank account. All benefits of the account will be provided to beneficiaries by the deadline, he said.

He said that reminders will be dispatched to all banks in the district to implement the guidelines of the scheme. Each bank has been allotted a special area, called wards, for the institution to ensure 100 per cent financial inclusion. “We will direct the banks to open bank accounts wherever necessary, on time,” he said.

Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha MP, Prathap Simha said that villagers in Hullahalli, Hunsur district had complained that local bank branches had not provided forms for people who wanted to open bank accounts under the Yojana.

 Other elected representatives present in the meeting also aired similar complaints, where bank branches inside the city have refused to open accounts under the scheme.

Dhruvanarayan asked bank representatives to give more importance to tribal settlements in the fringes of forests, so as to ensure that such marginalised communities too have bank accounts.  

Postal problems

Complaints regarding postmen, who were delaying payment of pensions for beneficiaries under various schemes were also raised in the meeting. Complaints against the postal department have been reported in Periyapatna taluk, elected representatives present in the meeting, said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner, M S Archana promised to look into the issue and said that action will be taken against erring individuals. She suggested that the beneficiaries should shift to bank accounts to receive their benefits, which would reduce the inconvenience caused.

Dhruvanarayan instructed the officer to compile a list of various beneficiaries who had postal bank accounts, so that they could open accounts under JDY.

Paddy procurement

K R Nagar MLA, Sa Ra Mahesh said that paddy procurement in the district had taken a hit, as the paddy procured during the last financial year was yet to be lifted from the warehouses. 

“With paddy harvest season round the corner, delay in procurement would affect farmers,” he said.

A Department of Food and Civil Supplies official present in the meeting, said that 67 mills have been issued notices to lift rice. He added that 3.52 quintals of rice was procured during the past year.