I have decided to help people associated in my life to open bank accounts under ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna’.
I tried and it does not take much time. You don’t need to register with anyone to help. Its just free guidance and may be a visit or two at the bank which is next to your apartment or lane.
All you need is to visit this link [http://jandhanyojana.net/what-is-jan-dhan-yojana/] and understand the scheme. Its few easy to understand sentences – five paragraphs. Thats all the scheme is about. Not at all complicated.
Then ask people you want to help bring any of the documents mentioned in this link [http://jandhanyojana.net/id-proof-opening-jan-dhan-yojana-bank-account/]. A gist is reproduced below:
A voter identity card issued by the election commission of India
Personal Account Number or PAN Card
Ration card with any photo proof
Aadhar Card
Valid ID proof from any government organisation
A letter from Sarpanch of the village with a valid photograph
A job card issued by NREGA and signed by state official
Apart from this RBI has also issued a release stating that if the account holder fails to provide any of the documentation, he/she can still open a bank account with self-attested photograph, attested in presence of bank official. This will be a special small account with limited features including limits on withdrawals.
Just collate the required identity and address proofs from maids/servants/watchman/milk & paper delivery boys, et al. Fix a time and go along with them on Saturday to any nearest nationalised bank. The bank officers will verify the documents, take signature or thumb impression on the form. In most cases bank officials are quite helpful to filling the forms on behalf of these new customers. Kindly check with the banker on RuPay Card and Insurance sign-offs.
Its that simple.
These people who have got their bank accounts opened for first time in their lives, are so happy to have a bank account with debit card and accident cover of Rs 100000 and life cover of Rs 30000. Full list of benefits of the bank account under the scheme is here [http://jandhanyojana.net/jan-dhan-yojana-benefits/]. They have contacted their families in UP and Andhra to go to the nearest banks and open bank account under the scheme. For the first time they say they are feeling proud to be part of city of Mumbai. For long they have remained victims of institutional-financial untouchability. Not anymore. Such joy on their faces.
Additionally it would be really helpful if one volunteers to take full responsibility to handhold them for next 6 months in teaching them how to fill pay-in slips, write a cheque, use withdrawal slips at banks, use RuPay debit cards – not just by talks, visit with them at Banks, ATM and local kirana shops making card payment. They are eager to learn, very curious and a quick study.
Trust me these people have been managing their families, making their children study, battling inflation and still trying to save – all remaining in the low-income-group. We may end-up learning a thing or two from them on how to manage finances in such struggle-situations and still remain happy.
You could also help empower people and facilitate their financial integration.
Its patriotic and noble to help our fellow citizens.
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Prime Minister’s email to all bank officers: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=109051
How Jan Dhan Yojna is being implemented?: http://jandhanyojana.net/how-jan-dhan-yojana-is-being-implemented/
How to open a bank account under PMJDY?: http://jandhanyojana.net/how-to-open-a-bank-account-under-pmjdy/
List of Public Sector (Government Banks) and Private Sector Banks participating in the PMJDY scheme: http://jandhanyojana.net/banks/
What is RuPay Card and its benefits: http://jandhanyojana.net/what-is-rupay-card/
Highlights of the PMJDY scheme: http://jandhanyojana.net/highlights-of-the-jan-dhan-yojana-pmjdy/
[The blog originally appeared on September 13, 2014 at my old blog site here: http://ajayrdave.blogspot.com/2014/09/how-can-you-contribute-to-nation.html]