Das tells banks not to adjust loan against DBT

Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Friday categorically asked the bankers not to adjust loan granted to farmers and underprivileged people against the financial assistance (Direct Benefit Transfer) they get in their accounts under various welfare schemes run by the Centre as well as the State Government.

The CM has stepped in after instances of suicides reportedly having taken place following deduction of loan amount by the banks from the money transferred to the beneficiaries' accounts under a Government welfare scheme.

The Chief Minister, in a review meeting with bankers of the State on Friday, passed a clear instruction to the banks to refrain from the practice as the assistance coming from the Central or State Governments cannot be used for for any purpose other than that.

"Adjusting debt of any kind from the money coming to a beneficiary account under the Government's welfare schemes is completely wrong and it should not be done. Bank officials should ensure that," said the CM and instructed the Finance Department to release a helpline number to register such complaints.

The Chief Minister, referring to era of digitization, said that the Governments at the State as well as the Centre, were pushing for 100 per cent DBT for almost all schemes to help the poor and negate the interventions of middleman and corruption.

He directed the bank officials to issue a letter in this regard to bank branches lower down the order when he was reviewing schemes, including Prime Minister Jan-Dhan Scheme. The CM was also particular about the complaints coming for demanding guarantor for opening Jan Dhan accounts and said that Aadhaar number should be enough to open an account.

"Even today many villages have not been provided with basic facilities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the goal of New India by year 2022. The State Government is working to fulfill this goal. The target for implementing the seven flagship schemes of the Central Government in 6512 villages, till August 15, has been decided. District and Block coordinators have a big role in this. Block Coordinator is the link between public and governance. Block coordinator should meet with the people of Panchayat Secretariat and work to give benefits of Prime Minister Jan Dhan Account, the Prime Minister Security Insurance Scheme and the Prime Minister Jyoti Insurance scheme to the people," said the CM. Das also talked about incentivising Panchayat Secretariat and underlined the role of tribal development committees and village development committees in monitoring the implementation of the welfare schemes. "So far 84 per cent committees have been formed. Help them in opening bank accounts and complete these tasks by June," he added.

Five lakh construction workers out of seven lakh have been insured in Jharkhand so far. "Labor Department officials have been instructed to insure the rest two lakh workers within a month. Payment of premium should be done by depositing amount in construction board," said an official. CS Sudhir Tripathi, Development Commissioner DK Tiwari, Additional Chief Secretary of Finance Department Sukhdev Singh, Principal Secretary to the CM Sunil Kumar Barnwal, Secretary of Urban Development Dept Ajoy Kumar Singh, Secretary of Planning cum Finance Satendra Singh, Secretary of Panchayati Raj Vinay Choubey along with General Manager of SLBC CS Sahay, Chief Manager of SLBC Deepshankar and senior officers of banks were present during the review.