Correspondent
KOHIMA, AUGUST 28
NAGALAND Legislative Assembly (NLA) Speaker, Chotisuh Sazo launched the much talked about Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) this evening here at the state capital in a function held simultaneously with the national launch of the scheme by the Prime Minister in New Delhi.
Addressing the function at Hotel Japfü, Kohima, Sazo said the PMJDY scheme being launched barely two weeks after an announcement in this regard was made by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech, is an indication of how fast things are moving at the Central government level under Modi’s new regime. He asserted that the state government will have to shift to “faster gears” if it were to catch up with the Centre and also if the state is to take maximum advantage of Central schemes.
Highlighting some features of PMJDY, the Speaker said the scheme is intended to give universal access to banking facilities to a target 7.5 crore households across India which still remain without banking coverage. He pointed out that in today’s computer and IT driven society, paper money is foreseen to gradually give way to electronic mode of payments through credit and debit cards. Hence a universal banking coverage for every household will become a necessity and a reality, he said.
Sazo stressed that, however, the PMJDY is not merely to open a savings account in a bank or to have an account that allows zero balance but it has many attractive features for the poor such as the free RuPay Debit Card having inbuilt accident insurance cover upto 1 lakh rupees as well as an overdraft facility upto 5000 rupees for Aadhar enable accounts. This incidentally highlights the need for giving Aadhar number to every citizen of Nagaland if the people are to fully utilize the scheme, he stated. Towards this, the Speaker asked the Chief Secretary to look into the matter as the direct benefit transfer under many government schemes can be successfully implemented only if there is universal coverage by bank accounts along with Aadhar numbers.
He also pointed out that another side benefit that can be expected from universal access to banking facilities is the inculcation of saving habit among the Naga people. “We are basically good spenders. But if we are to be a developed and self supporting society, developing a saving habit is a must,” Sazo said.
Meanwhile, the Speaker voiced concern over the telecom connectivity in the rural areas of the state, saying the objectives of the PMJDY scheme cannot fully be achieved without telecom connectivity. In this regard, he urged the BSNL and other telecom service providers to become more active and involved in providing connectivity to all the parts of the state.
He also called upon all the bankers, state government officials and the public to enthusiastically involve themselves in the implementation of the PMJDY to make the scheme a success in Nagaland and also to help in laying the foundation for the state’s economic progress and prosperity.
The Speaker also, on the occasion, handed over pass books and KYC documents to farmers.
General manager SBI, Corporate Centre (Mumbai), GC Pandey who was also present at the function
delivered a brief introduction to PMJDY expressed optimism that the scheme will be a game changer for the common man as well as for the banks and the nation as a whole. He said the scheme would not just enable every household in the country to have access to banking services but it is also envisaged that a Customer Service Point will be made available within a reasonable distance where everybody will have access to open a bank account and execute transactions.
Going forward and based on some easy terms and conditions, the account holders will also get loan facility, he explained, adding that in the second phase of the programme, insurance and pension products will also be provided to account holders.
He said in Nagaland, more than 150 camps are being held today and banks are also engaged in providing financial literacy at grassroots level. “The enabling environment has been set in place and we are confident that all those who have not opened account earlier, would come forward to open their accounts,” Pandey added.
The national launching programme of the PMJDY in New Delhi was telecast live during the function. A host of state officials including ministers Dr. Neikiesalie Nicky Kire, CL John and P Longon, chief secretary Banuo Z Jamir, SBI general manager Jorhat AK Choudhary, bank officials from across the state, farmers and public leaders attended the function.
