State to get micro- ATM s for rural inclusion

Maharashtra would get around 15,000 micro- ATM s from the Centre to facilitate financial inclusion of people in remote areas. Around 20,000 business correspondents (BCs) would be appointed for taking banking to the doorstep of people in remote areas by allowing them to do transactions micro ATMs. The four Aadhaar-enabled basic types of banking transactions possible through these are balance enquiry, cash withdrawal, cash deposit and Aadhaar to Aadhaar fund transfer.

At present, there are about 500 BCs and their number will be enhanced considerably so that Mah atm a Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) funds can be disbursed to the labour force immediately.

This assurance of micro ATM s was given by Nandan Nilankeni, Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan here recently.

According to Information Technology Secretary Rajesh Agrawal 6.35 crore Aadhaar card enrolments have been done in Maharashtra. "On a daily basis, we are doing 1.5 to 1.8 lakh enrolments which is the highest in the country. At 70-75 per cent, one crore enrolments have been done in Mumbai."

He said that 50 per cent of Aadhaar card machines in the state will be shifted from schools to housing societies to facilitate the penetration. "50 per cent of the total 4000-5000 Aadhar card machines in the state will be shifted from schools to housing societies. There are about 500 machines in Pune and Thane," Agrawal said, adding that the state will cross 85 per cent enrolment by March 2014.