10 Years of Jan Dhan Yojana: PM Modi Congratulates Beneficiaries; Know All About Scheme

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and congratulated the beneficiaries of the scheme. He also praised those who have contributed to the success of the scheme, which was launched in August 2014 to ensure access to financial services for all citizens.

In a tweet on X, PM Modi highlighted the importance of the Jan Dhan Yojana in advancing financial inclusion in India. He wrote, “Today, we mark a momentous occasion— #10YearsOfJanDhan. Jan Dhan Yojana has been paramount in boosting financial inclusion and giving dignity to crores of people, especially women, youth, and the marginalized communities.”

How Jan Dhan Yojna Works?

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana is a financial inclusion initiative launched by the NDA-led central government in 2014. The scheme aims to bring every household into the formal banking system by providing access to basic financial services, including savings accounts, credit, insurance, and pensions.

Impact and Reach of the Scheme

As of August 14, 2024, the Jan Dhan Yojana has facilitated the opening of over 53.1 crore bank accounts, with total deposits exceeding ₹2.3 lakh crore. Nearly 30 crores of these accounts belong to women, highlighting the scheme's focus on empowering women through financial inclusion.

Benefits of Jan Dhan Accounts

Jan Dhan accounts offer several key benefits to account holders:

1. Zero Balance Requirement: There is no need to maintain a minimum balance in these accounts.
  
2. Interest on Deposits: Account holders earn interest on the money deposited in their accounts.

3. RuPay Debit Card: Account holders receive a RuPay debit card, which includes an accident insurance cover of ₹1 lakh (increased to ₹2 lakh for accounts opened after August 28, 2018).

4. Overdraft Facility: An overdraft facility of up to ₹10,000 is available to eligible account holders.

5. Eligibility for Government Schemes: These accounts are eligible for various government schemes, including Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), and the Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Bank (MUDRA) scheme.

How to Open a Jan Dhan Account

Jan Dhan accounts can be opened at any bank after filling an application form to open an account. Anyone above 10 years of age can open a PMJDY account.

Required Documents:

- Aadhaar Card: If an Aadhaar Card or Aadhaar number is available, no additional documents are needed. A self-certification of the current address is sufficient if the address has changed.
 
- Alternative Documents: If an Aadhaar Card is not available, one of the following Officially Valid Documents (OVD) is required: Voter ID Card, Driving License, PAN Card, Passport, or NREGA Card. These documents can also serve as "Proof of Identity and Address" if they contain the current address.
 
- For Low-Risk Individuals: If none of the above documents are available, a low-risk individual can open an account by submitting an Identity Card with the applicant's photograph issued by Central/State Government Departments, Public Sector Undertakings, Scheduled Commercial Banks, or a letter issued by a gazetted officer with a duly attested photograph.