Panchayat Raj Minister Jupally Krishna Rao today stated that 100 per cent bank accounts under biometric process using Adhar cards will be provided to people in villages and towns by January 10, 2017. The Minister directed that the officials should take steps to open bank accounts to 4.5 lakh more pensioners, who are yet to get them and encourage them to make use of cashless transactions.
Addressing the media later, Jupally said the officials were instructed to take immediate measures to provide bank accounts to all in villages and create awareness among the people involving self-help groups and others.
Earlier, the minister held a high-level review meeting with bankers, post offices, cooperative wing and other officials. Krishna Rao discussed the issue of opening bank accounts to all, giving debit cards, Rupay cards and ensure that cashless transactions are made across the State successfully. Pensions and payment of wages for workers under employment guarantee scheme and others will be done through cashless transactions using swiping machines in a big way. The government constituted a committee of officials to monitor the same to expedite the process of distributing back accounts. For the purpose, the bankers can press their business staff to create awareness among the people on the use of plastic money while other wings will form committees to coordinate and speed up the process.
Currency Notes ban decision taken by the Centre led to the States to go in for cashless transactions, Krishna Rao stated. As per the directive of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, the officials were directed to make every transaction cashless and motivate the people in the villages. Since the government was favoring cashless transactions, the officials were asked to coordinate and issue bank accounts to all and make sure that the people use it only. “We will achieve the target of making 100 per cent cashless transactions across the State and in first phase, the same will be implemented in Rural Development and Panchayat Raj departments”, he added. (NSS)