Cabinet reviews Jan Dhan scheme; banks open over 3 crore accounts

New Delhi: The Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took stock of the financial inclusion drive, Jan Dhan Yojana, under which banks have opened 3.02 crore accounts and mobilised about Rs 1,500 crore.

"As of September 8, 2014, 3.02 crore accounts have been opened, of which 1.89 crore are in rural areas and 1.13 crore are in urban areas," a source said on Wednesday.

"Banks have collected deposits of Rs 1,496.51 crore under the scheme so far which works out to Rs 495 per account," the source added.

Prime Minister launched this ambitious scheme of financial inclusion on August 28.

The benefit of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) can be extended to existing account holders without opening a new account.

The government is giving adequate publicity to the benefit to be extended to account holders, sources added.

The main features of the PMJDY scheme include Rs 5,000 overdraft facility for Aadhar-linked accounts, RuPay Debit Card with inbuilt Rs 1 lakh accident insurance cover.

Besides, account holders under the scheme will get life insurance cover of Rs 30,000. This was additional benefit announced by the Prime Minister during the launch of the scheme.

The modalities for the life insurance cover to the account holders are being worked out and given the final shape, sources added.