Mangaluru: Reports are rife that Banks in Dakshina Kannada in compliance with directive given by finance secretary, Union ministry of finance, conducted the first camp for opening of bank accounts for those without one at Lingappayyana Kadu, near Karnad Industrial area, Mulki on Nov 26, Saturday. The camp will be held today/ Sunday as well. Subsequently, camps will be held at K S Rao Nagar, Mulki on Monday, Jyothinagar, Panjimogaru, Kavoor and Thadambail, Surathkal.

Raghav V Yajamanya, lead district chief manager, Dakshina Kannada district, said that besides participating in the scheduled camps, all banks in the district have been advised to instruct their branches simultaneously to open accounts for persons in unorganised sectors in their operational areas, singly by individual branches or jointly with other bank branches in accordance with the GoI guidelines and communicate the same to the lead district office on a daily basis.

The finance secretary had stressed importance of opening bank accounts of persons having no bank accounts belonging to unorganised sector. In addition, secretary had stressed need for Aadhaar/Mobile seeding of bank accounts, issue/distribution of RuPay card and its activation by Banks. In this regard, all stake holders should take the task on mission mode by organising camps commencing from Saturday besides suggested strategy they should adopted.

The camps will be utilised for obtaining consent letters from account holders for Aadhaar seeding, mobile seeding and also issue and activation of RuPay cards. Aadhaar number is not mandatory for opening of accounts. The services of bank mitras will be utilised in the camp for opening of accounts. The financial literacy centres will also be utilised for creating awareness about demonetisation of notes and also benefits of opening of accounts.

The KYC norms issued by RBI for opening of PMJDY accounts will be followed. Banks will mobilise/accept applications for opening of accounts during the camps and shall open accounts in the subsequent working day. No cash transactions will be carried out on holidays. The district level committee headed by the deputy commissioner and consisting of the lead district bank manager depending on the need will decide on date for organising subsequent camps.