Financial inclusion campaign in four Himalayan regions facilitates 1.96 lakh interventions
New Delhi, July 22
A month-long Financial Inclusion Saturation Campaign conducted across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh facilitated 1.96 lakh solutions and interventions, the Department of Financial Services said on Wednesday.
The campaign, conducted from June 15 to July 15, was aimed at maximising participation in financial inclusion initiatives while taking into account the region-specific climatic conditions of weather-sensitive hilly areas.
The campaign was organised through 6,084 camps across 31 districts, covering Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the four regions.
The initiative focused on expanding access to key financial security and social welfare schemes, including enrolment under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
The campaign also facilitated the opening of new Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts and the reactivation of inoperative accounts, aimed at bringing more people into the formal banking system.
As part of efforts to improve the accessibility and reliability of banking services, the campaign also focused on Central KYC (CKYC) updation and nomination registration, along with Re-KYC for existing PMJDY and other savings bank accounts.
The DFS said the campaign also included awareness sessions on financial inclusion schemes and digital fraud, helping citizens understand available financial services and adopt safer digital banking practices.
The initiative brought essential financial services closer to citizens in remote and hilly areas, with the government emphasising the need to ensure that the benefits of financial inclusion reach every Gram Panchayat and ULB across the covered regions.
The campaign's focus on insurance, pension, banking access, KYC compliance and digital fraud awareness was aimed at addressing multiple aspects of financial inclusion through a single outreach programme.
The DFS said the 1.96 lakh solutions and interventions delivered during the campaign covered the identified focus areas of financial inclusion and helped strengthen access to formal financial services for citizens across the four regions.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The focus on digital fraud awareness is crucial. In my village in Uttarakhand, elderly folks are often scared of banking apps because of scam calls. This campaign could actually build trust if done properly. Hope they follow up with regular refresher sessions.
Impressive numbers - 1.96 lakh interventions in just one month. I've travelled through Ladakh and know how challenging the terrain is. This is what good governance looks like when it reaches the last mile. 👏
Good move but wait - only 1.96 lakh solutions across four whole regions? Four states and UTs with millions of people? That's just scratching the surface. Also, KYC updates can be a hassle in remote areas without proper connectivity. Let's see sustainability before celebrating.
The insurance schemes (PMJJBY and PMSBY) are good safety nets for daily wage earners in mountain communities. But I hope the awareness sessions also explain claim processes - many policies go unclaimed in rural India due to paperwork hassles.
Finally! 👏 My parents in Kangra had an inoperative Jan Dhan account because the nearest bank branch was 40km away. Campaigns like this are why we need more banking correspondents in hilly areas year-round, not just one month. But still - positive step.
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