New Delhi: The government has opened 11.50 crore bank accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana on January 17, surpassing the target of 7.5 crore accounts till January 26.
The feat has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records for maximum account openings in shortest time.
Against the original target of opening bank accounts for 7.5 crore uncovered households in the country by 26 January, 2015, banks have already opened 11.50 crore accounts as on January 17 after conducting survey of 21.02 crore households in the country, Jaitley said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi too patted the back of the government for the feat.
“The unprecedented success of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana is overwhelming. This is a matter of pride for the entire Nation. I congratulate all the state governments, banks & the finance ministry for the great success of the Jan Dhan Yojana. We embarked on PMJDY with an aim to integrate the poor with our financial system. The comprehensive extent of its coverage is gladdening!” tweeted Modi.
Jaitley said, “RuPay cards have been issued to more than 10 crore beneficiaries who will get a benefit of personal accidental insurance of Rs 1 lakh under the scheme. In addition, there is a life insurance cover of Rs 30,000 for eligible beneficiaries.”
A deposit of Rs 9,188 crore has been mobilised in the accounts opened under PMJDY.
Jaitley said the PMJDY is a game-changer for the economy as it has provided the platform for Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) which, in turn, will help in plugging leakages in subsidies and thereby provide savings to the exchequer. Under the PAHAL scheme, which is the Direct Benefits Transfer in LPG subsidy, he said that an amount of Rs 1,757 crore has been transferred to the beneficiary accounts through the banking network since November 15, 2014.
