Punjab's record poor in Aadhaar-bank a/c link

The Aadhaar enrollment is 97% in the state and the generation stands at 89.3% of the total population

Although Punjab is on the verge of being declared as saturated state in Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, when it comes to linking or opening the new accounts with Aadhaar, the compliance is 53 per cent which is lower than Andhra Pradesh (65.4 per cent) and Telangana (70 per cent).

The linking of Aadhaar number with bank accounts assumes significance as according to Prime Minister Office (PMO), schemes like MGNREGA, scholarships, old age pension, PDS (Public Distribution System), LPG etc will be linked with Aadhaar. In addition to this, the new account under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana will provide the account holder basic banking services with overdraft facility of Rs 5000, after six months of opening the account. It would also entitle the account holder with a RuPay debit card with inbuilt accidental insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh. Those who open their accounts before January 26, 2015 would also be entitled for a health insurance, worth Rs 30,000.

The Aadhaar enrollment is 97 per cent in the state and the generation stands at 89.3 per cent of the total population. Perturbed over low percentage of accounts with Aadhaar, UIDAI, Deputy Director General, Keshni Anand Arora asked bankers during the state-level bankers committee (SLBC) meet to speed up the process as in near future, many schemes will be linked with Aadhaar number. She also added that linking the bank account with Aadhaar enables the account holder to avail the overdraft facility of Rs 5000. It is pertinent to mention here that the PMO has set December 2014 as deadline for 100 per cent Aadhar seeding with beneficiaries' account. According to UIDAI officials, the action will be taken by banks in coordination with respective department to seed Aadhaar in beneficiaries' bank account.

According to SLBC data, 28.12 lakh accounts were opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. Punjab National Bank"s Executive Director Gauri Shanker said, "Survey work has been completed in all the 22 districts".

Ten districts have been declared as saturated as accounts of all uncovered households have been opened and the remaining district will be declared saturated shortly".