PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
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GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH A NEW PROGRAM OF FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN
MISSION MODE TO PROVIDE HOUSEHOLDS WITH FACILITIES OF SAVINGS,
CREDIT, REMITTANCES, INSURANCE AND PENSION: FM
New Delhi, July 31, 2014
Shravana 9, 1936
The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that the Government is going to
launch a new program of Financial Inclusion in Mission Mode which will provide households
with facilities of savings, credit, remittances, insurance and pension among others. He said that
this is a marked shift from earlier effort where only opening of account was the focus of the
financial inclusion drive. The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley was speaking after holding a meeting
with the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Financial
Institutions(FIs) here today.
The meeting was attended among others by Shri G.S. Sandhu, Secretary, Department of
Financial Services, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India, Ms. Snehlata Shrivastva,
Additional Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of
Public Sector Banks and Financial Institutions and senior officers of Ministry of Finance.
The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley further said that this time the Government is targeting
the individual households rather than the village. He said that there are 7.5 crore households in
the country who do not have bank account so far. The Finance Minister said that the Government
is targeting that every village should get a banking facility within a reasonable distance and that
every household should have at least one bank account within the time frame of one year. This is
a big challenge and there are several difficulties like lack of connectivity and infrastructure
facilities etc, the Minister added.
The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley said that in our country where we have very low levels
of financial literacy, it is essential that people understand the importance of availing financial
services which will enable them to participate in the growth story. Therefore, financial literacy
will receive a special emphasis in this new programme of financial inclusion, the Minister added.
The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley said that technology has made rapid strides in recent
times and, therefore, the Government must use technology, especially mobile based services in a
big way to achieve the desired results. The Government has integrated provisions of access to
banking facilities, account opening, financial literacy, credit availment, micro insurance and
pension, the Minister added.
The Financial Inclusion Mission has two phases starting from 15thAugust this year. The
first phase will get over by 14thAugust, 2015 and the second Phase by 14thAugust, 2018. Most of
the activities will be done in Phase I and insurance and pension would be covered in Phase II.
The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley said that the primary method of branchless banking has
been that of the Business Correspondents. It is therefore important to ensure that the Business
Correspondents have a viable business model and for this purpose Government has decided to
encourage transfer of subsidies directly to bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley added that the previous efforts did not involve the State
Government and District administration. He said that this time the State Governments have been
requested to achieve this ambitious task. There would be State level and District level
Committees to monitor the progress under the plan, the Minister stated.
The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley said that there was no pull factor in the earlier
campaign where people could demand access of banking facilities in their villages. He added that
under the Mission, there would be awareness generation amongst the people so that they can ask
for opening of their bank accounts by the banks and the business correspondents.
The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley stated that in the past, the Know Your Customer (KYC)
process was very cumbersome. This has now been eased and the e-KYC facility has been
introduced in the banks.
Comparison between Old Financial Inclusion Programme and New Programme
Old Program New Program
Village based approach for villages where Households in all villages
population greater than 2000 (Limited
Geography)
Only Rural Both Rural and Urban
Mobile BC Fixed Point BC in each SSA comprising of 3 to 4
villages. This visit other villages in the SSA on fixed
days.
Focus on opening of Basic Savings Bank Focus on Financial Literacy, opening of BSBDA
Deposit Accounts (BSBDA) Account, Convergence with other subsidy schemes&
Micro Insurance/Pension, RuPay Debit Card, USSD
Scheme, Kisan Credit Card
Monitoring by banks Monitoring Mechanism at Centre, State, District
level. Active participation of state and district
emphasized.
Operation of Accounts offline; separate Accounts on line `on CBS of banks. Provision of
server. RuPay Card to each account holder giving him
freedom to operate anywhere
Besides above, the following decisions were also taken in today's meeting of the CEOs
of Public Sector Banks and Financial Institutions which was chaired by the Union Finance
Minister Shri Arun Jaitley.
New emphasis on fixed point Business Correspondents (BCs) like
o Common Service Centres (CSCs)
o Gramin Dak Sewak
o PDS shops
o NBFCs
Banks to explore the possibilities of installing ATMs in rural areas under the RBI subsidy
scheme.
Convergence with the efforts of UIDAI to enroll beneficiaries for Aadhar number during
account opening
Convergence with the efforts of other programmes for SHGs/JLGs
e-KYC to be used for opening of accounts in the camps where Aadhaar number is
available
Financial Literacy material would be standardized by IBA
Logo / tagline of the plan to be used on all correspondence material for one year
Overdraft facilities would be after satisfactory operation.
Grievance redressal cell at State level by State Level Banker's Committee(SLBC)
In order to ensure viability of BCs Banks would start a financing scheme
Banks would take Micro ATMs which are Aadhar enabled
All passbook based KCCs to be enabled on RuPay card
Mobile wallet cash points also to be used as BCs
Monitoring mechanism strengthened
State Governments requested to depute an officer to SLBC for monitoring purpose
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