How Does PM’s JAM Trinity Empower the Poor as Jan Dhan Deposits Exceed Rs 2.5 Lakh Crore?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 55.44 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened.
- Total deposits surpassed Rs 2.5 lakh crore.
- Women hold 56 percent of the accounts.
- 99.95 percent of villages have banking access within 5 km.
- 80 percent of accounts are active.
New Delhi, July 25 (NationPress) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi became India’s second longest-serving Premier on Friday, a significant milestone during his leadership is the impressive tally of 55.44 crore Jan Dhan accounts established for the nation’s underprivileged, with total deposits exceeding Rs 2.5 lakh crore this year, as reported by RBI data.
The Jan Dhan accounts have facilitated unprecedented financial inclusion, particularly empowering women who represent 56 percent of these account holders.
RBI Deputy Governor M. Rajeshwar Rao stated, “The launch of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) marked a pivotal turning point in India’s financial inclusion efforts.” The JAM trinity—Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhar, and Mobile—has significantly advanced access to banking services for all adults, establishing it as the world's largest financial inclusion initiative.
The JAM Trinity has effectively enhanced the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) program, broadening its scope from limited to comprehensive. This scheme has been instrumental in disbursing funds for MNREGA salaries, Ujjwala scheme subsidies, and providing financial assistance during the Covid pandemic, as highlighted by a statement from the Finance Ministry.
Universal access to bank accounts has not only broadened the reach of various financial services but has also facilitated seamless delivery of welfare programs to targeted populations.
Currently, 99.95 percent of all inhabited villages have access to banking services within a 5-km radius through various banking points (including bank branches, ATMs, banking correspondents (BCs), and Indian Post Payment Banks), according to the statement.
The PMJDY is recognized as one of the most significant financial inclusion programs globally, according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, with a goal to open an additional 3 crore accounts in the current year.
The average balance in bank accounts has surged from Rs 1,065 in March 2015 to Rs 4,352 today, with approximately 80 percent of the accounts remaining active, as per Finance Ministry data.
Of the Jan Dhan accounts, 66.6 percent are established in rural and semi-urban areas, and 29.56 crore are owned by female account holders.
Upon taking office 11 years ago, the Modi government aimed to provide financial and banking services to every citizen, establishing zero-balance accounts for the most impoverished under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, launched on August 28, 2014.