Betting big on the Nabakalebara festival at Puri, the Department of Financial Services under the Union ministry of Finance and Indian Banks' Association have asked banks to publicise the social security schemes launched by the Centre recently.
Nearly five million people are expected to congregate in Puri to witness the festival in July. Which marks the replacement of old wooden idols of Lord Jagannath and his siblings with new ones.
The Rath Yatra of the presiding deities of Puri temple will be celebrated on July 18 and this year being the Nabakalebar year devotees from different parts of the country and within the state will throng the beach town in large numbers.
The State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) has written to all the controlling heads of the banks in the state to take steps for wide publicity of the schemes and enrol the customers during the festival.
"Indian Banks' Association and Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India have advised that the banks should open special counters at Puri for enrolment of customers under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Surakshya Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) and open new accounts under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), if anybody has no account in any bank," SLBC has written to the bank heads here.
Since the schemes have been launched to move towards creating a universal security system, targeted especially for the poor and the under-privileged, SLBC said, the banners, hoardings and posters to publicize these should be displayed prominently in regional or local language for its effectiveness.
Under PMSBY, the risk coverage is Rs two lakh for accidental death and full disability and Rs 1 lakh for partial disability. The scheme is available to people in the age group of 18 to 70 years having bank accounts, from where the premium would be collected through "auto-debit" mode. The annual premium is Rs 12 per subscriber.
PMJJBY offers life insurance coverage of Rs 2 lakh for any savings bank account holder in the age group of 18-50 years on payment of Rs 330 per year. This scheme is offered through LIC of India or other life insurance companies that are willing to offer life coverage on similar terms.
APY, on the other hand, ensures fixed monthly pension of Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000, Rs 4,000, Rs 5,000 to subscribers on attaining the age of 60 years, depending on their contributions, which itself would vary according to the age of joining the scheme. The minimum age of joining APY is 18 years and maximum age is 40 years. The minimum period of contribution by any subscriber under APY would be 20 years or more.
The enrolments under PMSBY and PMJJBY stood at 2,713,189 and 654,412 in the state respectively as on June 29. Similarly, more than 14,000 persons have joined the pension scheme.
