PMJDY to directly benefit 14 cr families: Maneka Gandhi

Union Minister Maneka Gandhi today said 14 crore families across the country will benefit directly from the Jan Dhan yojana launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it will connect them with the banking system.
Speaking at the launch of the yojana in Uttarakhand here, the Union Minister for Women and Child Welfare said the ambitious project will help connect people living in remote areas with the banking system.
Having a bank account of their own will not only help people get insurance, a debit card and an overdraft facility of Rs 5,000 but also get the benefit of various schemes meant for them through the facility of direct cash transfer.

She also promised that her ministry will give clearance on priority to any proposal sent by the state government for the welfare of women and children in the disaster-prone state.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat hailed the launch of the scheme in Uttarakhand and promised all cooperation from the state government in its implementation.
Pointing out that poor connectivity in the remote hill areas of the state may pose a hurdle in its effective implementation in Uttarakhand, the chief minister said the Centre should issue clear directives to the BSNL asking it to increase connectivity in remote hilly terrain.
Banks will also have to show greater generosity in setting up their branches in high altitudes for more effective implementation of the scheme by reaching out to more people, he said.