12643 bank accounts opened under PMJDY in Tamenglong
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Daniel Kamei

Tamenglong, February 09 2015: As many as 12643 zero bank accounts have been opened at the lone United Bank of India (UBI) in Tamenglong under Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) .

Opening of bank account under Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana is still under process in Tamenglong.

To operate Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana, the lone United Bank of India in Tamenglong has opened two outlets- main Branch and bazaar branch.

Disclosing this to Hueiyen Lanpao, in an exclusive interview with the S.Stevan Aimol, Branch Manager, UBI Tamenglong Branch said that in order to cover and operate the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana even all far flung villages of Tamenglong, the United Bank of India has appointed three Business Correspondent Agents (BCA) and another five Sub- Service Area agent (SSA) in Tamenglong block.

For Tamei and Tousem block, the bank has appointed six Business Correspondent Agents, whereas Longmai (Noney) has been covered by State Bank of India (SBI) Noney Branch.

In all 12643 bank account opened, 8643 alone are at Tamenglong block and another 4000 accounts are at Tamei and Tousem blocks.

The process is still on for opening of bank account under Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana.

At first, people of Tamenglong thought that this Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana scheme would provide money to those who have opened bank accounts under Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana.

However, Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana is a national mission for financial inclusion to ensure access to financial services namely, banking/ savings, deposit accounts, remittance, credit, insurance, pension in an affordable manner, the official said.

Account can be opened in any bank branch or Business Correspondent outlet.

PMJDY accounts are being opened with zero balance.

However, if the account-holder wishes to get cheque book, he/she will have to fulfill minimum balance criteria.

In some villages, some people refuse to open bank account saying that opening bank account using the biometric data will link up with "Satan Number- 666" .

"In some village some miscreants threatened the bank agents and tried to destroy the laptop".

Lack of network is also a stumbling block to the scheme", the manager said.

To the query regarding charging of money to the applicant while opening zero bank account by Business Correspondent Agents and by Sub-Service Area Agents, the manager said that there is no written complaint to the higher authority.

The bank agent has charged Rs.100, Rs.200 and Rs.250 from the applicant while they (bank agent) go to the villages for opening the bank account under Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana.

One bank agent said that she charged Rs.100 from applicant for fee of passport size, Xerox documents, internet charge and domicile. It may be worth mentioned here that some special benefits under PMJDY Scheme includes interest on deposit, accidental insurance cover of Rs.1.00 lac, no minimum balance required, life insurance cover of Rs.30,000, easy Transfer of money across India, beneficiaries of Government Schemes will get Direct Benefit Transfer in these accounts, after satisfactory operation of the account for 6 months, an overdraft facility will be permitted, access to Pension, insurance products, accidental Insurance Cover, RuPay Debit Card must be used at least once in 45 days and overdraft facility upto Rs.5000 is available in only one account per household, preferably lady of the household.

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