Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana: Administration to instruct Jamshedpur banks to deliver amount at door steps

Jamshedpur, April 13: The beneficiaries of �Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan �Yojana account holders are flouting norms for social distancing in view of coronavirus. Long queues of people can be seen at the banks to take the amount being disbursed.

Meanwhile,  the East Singhbhum district administration has decided to ask the bank management for introducing banking correspondence and ensure the beneficiaries Rs 500 at their door step.

As per a central government’s step in providing monetary relief to women Jandhan account holders, Rs 500 is to be deposited in each of their accounts for three successive months.  The step was taken to give monetary support to the women belonging to the below poverty line (BPL) categories who have been hit amid the ongoing lockdown due to the coronavirus menace.

The beneficiaries who hail mostly from slum areas do not wear masks nor maintain the social distancing while standing in queues for getting  Rs 500.  The crowd of Jandhan account holders can be seen in the banks located in the localities at Karandih, Mango, Baridih, Parsudih, Jugsalai, Bagbera, and Sonari

For getting the Rs 500, a beneficiary has to obtain a form, then submit it for getting a token from the bank concerned.  

Though East Singhbhum district administration had ordered banks to enforce social distancing during crowding by beneficiaries of jan dhan yojana but the banks have failed to ensure the implementation of the directives.

According to Indian Banks� Association (IBA) directive banks have started depositing Rs 500 per month into jan dhan yojana accounts held by women.

A senior official of State Bank of India said that all banks have been asked to click pictures of beneficiaries and send it to their zonal office as proof of adherence to social distancing during banking hours (between 10 am and 4 pm).

� We have been directed to ensure that social distancing is maintained.  The banks have been directed to ensure strict compliance of social distance (at least a meter distance) amongst beneficiaries of the scheme, click pictures at different points of time and send it to their zonal office. We have also asked all banks to keep enough stock of hand sanitisers at the entry point of the banks in view of the Covid-19 pandemic,� said the official.