Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: The state government has set a target of opening bank accounts for all households in rural areas by January 15.
In a financial inclusion programme held recently, Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati has advised banks and concerned departments to complete household surveys at village-level by December 24 to meet the target of opening bank accounts for all households under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana.
While asking officials to take initiatives for augmenting financial literacy in rural areas, Pati reportedly asked banks and concerned government departments to coordinate with each other in generating awareness among people about safe deposit of their savings in bank and post office accounts.
Sources said the Chief Secretary has asked banks to adopt various models like banking correspondents, mobile banks with ATM facility, brick and mortar branches, citizen service centres, and SHGs to cover all gram panchayats at the earliest.
Banks have been advised to hold at least one programme on financial literacy each month in each branch. The district lead banks will engage financial literacy counsellors in this regard.
RBI regional director PK Jena informed that the target has been set to cover all GPs through banking services by December next year. Sources said the state cooperative banks will also participate in this Yojana to make it a success.
