Assam steps up financial inclusion drive: 261 camps held across 27 districts to expand rural banking access

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 9, 2025

A statewide financial inclusion campaign has been launched across Assam as part of a national three-month initiative by the Department of Financial Services to extend key banking services to every Gram Panchayat. The campaign, which began on July 1 and will continue till September 30, aims to saturate rural areas with major financial inclusion schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and the Atal Pension Yojana (APY).

Within the first week of the campaign, a total of 261 financial awareness camps have been held across 27 districts of Assam. These camps are being organized by various banks operating in the state to reach the unbanked and underserved populations.

The focus of the campaign is to activate dormant savings bank accounts through KYC reverification, open new accounts for unbanked adults under PMJDY, and enrol eligible individuals into government-backed life and accident insurance schemes under PMJJBY and PMSBY. Another key objective is to promote retirement planning by encouraging enrolment under the Atal Pension Yojana.

In addition to account and insurance coverage, the campaign includes extensive awareness sessions to educate rural citizens on digital fraud prevention, how to access unclaimed deposits, and how to use the banking grievance redressal mechanisms effectively.

To ensure the success of the initiative in Assam, a special State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) meeting was convened on June 24 at Janata Bhawan. Chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Dr. J. B. Ekka, the meeting discussed strategies for full saturation of financial schemes across all Gram Panchayats. During the meeting, SLBC Convenor and State Bank of India General Manager Safal Tripathy urged all participating banks to intensify their outreach and execution efforts.

This campaign marks a crucial step toward improving financial resilience and promoting inclusive economic growth by bringing essential financial services to the last mile. The state-wide effort aligns with the national vision of empowering rural communities through greater financial literacy, security, and accessibility.