Odisha aims to open bank accounts of all households by January 25

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha has set a target of opening bank accounts of all households in the state by January 25, 2015.

Odisha Chief Secretary G C Pati reviewed the financial inclusion programme yesterday and said banks and different departments need to complete household survey at village level by December 24, 2014.

"Target has been set to open the Bank Account of all households by January 25, 2015 under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana," Pati said.

Asking Banks to augment efforts for financial literacy in rural areas, Pati said that the Banks and concerned departments should have joint effort to make people aware about safe deposit of their savings in bank and post office accounts and not to believe in false promises about abnormal higher returns against their deposits.

Pati suggested banks to adopt various models like banking correspondents, mobile banks with ATM facility, brick and mortar branches, citizen service centers, SHGs and others to cover all Gram Panchayats within least possible time.

The suggestions come amidst a multi-crore chitfund scam in the state.

The proposal for adhaar linking of bank accounts of the beneficiaries of various schemes also figured in the meeting. So far around 2.56 crore people have been registered under Adhaar in Odisha.

The banks have been advised to hold at least one programme on financial literacy each month in each branch. The District Lead banks will engage Financial Literacy Counsellors.