Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana will bring good days for the poor. Foreign Minister Swaraj said that the scheme will fulfil dreams of weaker sections.
Both the dignitaries were present at the launch of Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana here on Thursday. Chouhan was the chief guest while Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj presided over the function.
Former Chief Minister Kailash Joshi, MP and State BJP President Nand Kumar Singh Chouhan, Mayor Krishna Gaur, district Panchayat Chairperson Meena Himmat Singh Goyal and MlAs Rameshwar Sharma and Surendranath Singh were present on the occasion.
Chouhan further said that the scheme will turn out to be boon for the poor. They will be saved from clutches of moneylenders. They will be able to get money immediately to meet contingent needs. Enumerating benefits of the scheme, he said that now assistance amounts under government schemes will be directly deposited in beneficiaries’ bank accounts. Money deposited in bank will also be safer. Wasteful expenditures will be curbed. Money will be multiplied since interest will accrue on it when deposited in banks.
Chouhan said that banks used to give credit facility only to industrialists in the country so far. Farmers have also got credit cards. Under the scheme, every poor person will get overdraft facility upto Rs 5000 and the poor people will not have the burden of loan. He informed that one ultra small bank will be opened in every 5 km area for smooth implementation of the scheme.
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Yojana will be harbinger of good days: Shivraj
He said that war-footing work is being undertaken to fulfill targets under the scheme. Till date, the target 10 lakh bank accounts was met today in the state. He said that the Central Government is doing what it had said. Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana is a successful effort for inclusive development.
Swaraj said that government run with people’s money. Through development works and relief, a welfare government returns the money to people. Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana is a successful effort for helping the poor realise their dreams. Under the novel scheme, Rs one lakh insurance cover is also being provided free with opening of account. An account holder will become eligible for Rs 5000 overdraft after successful transactions for 6 months. With this amount, a poor person will be able to realise his dreams by starting small business. She said that the scheme will also give a new dimension to women’s natural instinct of saving.
They need not hide money in food grains containers and other places now since they will be able to save it in bank. Micro finance plays important role in fulfilling ambitious dreams. Small saving is the axis of major economies. She said that scope of the scheme can be gauged by the fact that if average 100 accounts are opened in 60 thousand bank branches, then how much money will come into the economy. The scheme will motivate to save money at minimum cost. She urged to turn the scheme into a mass movement.
At the launch programme, nationwide launch of the scheme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was telecast live from Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. As token, bank account kits were given away to 11 persons.