New Delhi: Terming the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) as "the world's most successful" financial inclusion programme, President Pranab Mukherjee today said Rs 32,000 crore worth of deposits have been mobilised from over 21 crore account holders under the scheme.
In his address to the joint sitting of Parliament, Mukherjee highlighted various social security schemes of the government and the steps taken by it to improve functioning of state-owned banks.
He also said the "concerted efforts" to tackle the menace of black money stashed abroad have started yielding results.
The government, the President said, has placed great emphasis on food security, Housing for All and subsidies so that they reach those who need them the most.
"My government has pledged to make this goal (removing poverty) possible through financial inclusion and social security, the two wings on which human aspiration takes flight," Mukherjee said.
He said PMJDY has gone beyond mere opening of bank accounts to becoming a platform for poverty eradication by offering basic financial services and security to the poor.
"Today, I am proud to say it is the world's most successful financial inclusion programme. Under the programme, out of over 21 crore accounts opened, 15 crore accounts are operational with an aggregate deposit of over Rs 32,000 crore," he said.
On the black money front, the President said the government has enacted a law to deal with non-disclosure of foreign income and assets and thus has put in place a "stringent legislative framework" to combat the problem.
Mukherjee said over Rs 1 lakh crore have been disbursed to more than 2.6 crore borrowers under the PM Mudra Yojana, of which 2.07 crore are women entrepreneurs.
On revitalising public sector banks, Mukherjee said the 'Indradhanush' programme to infuse Rs 70,000 crore into state run lenders will ensure credit flow in the economy.
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In PSU banks, Mukherjee said the government has undertaken major governance reforms by bringing in private sector talent and moving to a fully transparent and meritocratic recruiting process.
"We have also issued 23 banking licences after a long hiatus of 10 years," he added.
As per the capital infusion road map, PSU banks will get Rs 25,000 crore this fiscal and as well as the next fiscal and Rs 10,000 crore each in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Out of Rs 25,000 crore set for the current fiscal, the government has infused about Rs 20,088 crore in 13 public sector banks.
The rest of the amount is expected to be infused this quarter after the passage of third supplementary demand for grants likely next month.
Mukherjee said micro, small and medium enterprises provide large scale employment and the government has set up UdyogAadhar Portal to facilitate online registration of MSMEs.
The government has also decided to set up rural livelihood and technology business incubators to boost entrepreneurship in agriculture and rural sectors.
"The Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme is a new vertical to strengthen the livelihoods of artisans and weavers. In its first phase, about 1.82 lakh village enterprises will be created and strengthened in 125 blocks across 24 states creating employment for about 3.78 lakh persons," Mukherjee added.
