Aatmja Kumari(Intern Journalist): Government will provide insurance cover to Jan Dhan account holders. Under this, they will be brought under the ambit of Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY). This announcement has been made on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJGY). In these six years, bank accounts of more than 40 crore people of the country have been opened under this scheme.
The Finance Ministry said in a statement that the eligible account holders from Jan Dhan Yojana will be provided with the facility of Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Suraksha Bima Yojana. Under the Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, bank account holders in the age group of 18-50 years are provided life insurance cover up to Rs 2 lakh for a year at a premium of just Rs 330.
In this, in case of the death of the account holder by any means, this amount is paid to his nearest dependent. The premium amount is deducted directly from the beneficiary’s account every year. At the same time, Suraksha Bima Yojana is for bank account holders in the age group of 18-70 years. Under this, accidental death of up to two lakh rupees for one year and disability insurance up to one lakh rupees is provided for a year at a premium of just Rs 12.
The government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, launched the scheme in 2014, at the beginning of its first term. It was one of the first most ambitious mass schemes of the then government. Its purpose was to bring every Indian who has no bank account into the mainstream of banking service.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said through a tweet on Friday that the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana was launched on this day six years ago, with the ambitious goal of connecting those who do not have bank accounts. This initiative was going to bring significant changes, proved to be the foundation of many poverty alleviation initiatives and it benefitted crores of people. He said, ‘Thanks to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, which has secured the future of many families.’
It is worth noting that out of the more than 40 crore Jan Dhan accounts opened so far, more than 63 percent account holders are from rural areas. About 55 percent of them are women. The biggest achievement of this scheme has been that the government has started providing all the benefits to the poor directly to them through Jan Dhan accounts.