Enrollment in developmental schemes hit by COVID-19

Raouf Dar
Srinagar Oct 22 (KINS): The progress of various developmental schemes has been hit by the COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir administration has set up a target of doubling to increase enrollment in various schemes for financial inclusion in the new Union Territory.
There are various centrally sponsored schemes including PMJDY, PMJJBY, PMSBY, SUPI, Mudra Loan and APY for poor people.
As per official documents, government has set up a target to double enrollment in these schemes.
“Under PMJDY, PMSBY and PMJJBY targets have also been assigned to the banks to reach milestones of 22 lakh accounts in PMJDY and eight lakh and four lakh enrollments under PMSBY and PMJJBY respectively,” the document reads.
However, an official of Rural Development Department told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that work of these schemes has been badly hit due to COVID-19.
“We could not increase in enrollment in these schemes because of coronavirus. We hope things get settled so that we could work to ensure enrollment in these schemes,” the official said.
Before COVID-19, Finance Department had launched a campaign to achieve complete financial literacy of the entire population and to enhance the livelihood options for the people, “who have been traditionally left out of such endeavors”.
“In order to reach out to all the segments of the population in each district, all lead district managers across J&K have been advised to organise special camps during the campaign period to push credit growth and enhance enrolments under different social security schemes,” the document reads.
District development commissioners were also directed to involve PRI functionaries like Panches, Sarpanches and BDC chairmen to spread awareness amongst the people about the different financial inclusion schemes of government of India and Union Territory.
An official said there are five main factors that go behind the conceptualization of financial inclusion including financial empowerment of every citizen, formalizing the economy, enhancing national productivity, bringing in transparency and optimization of national resources.(KINS)