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Govt to further strengthen Jan-Dhan Yojana as it completes 7 years of implementation

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Government proposes to further strengthen its national mission on financial inclusion under the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) by extending facilities for micro insurance including life and accident cover for all account holders under the scheme.

In its eighth year of operation, the Union government is set to further enrich the scheme by bringing account holders under digital transaction platform by including RuPay debit card usage amongst PMJDY accountholders through creation of acceptance infrastructure across India.

Also, improved access will be provided to PMJDY account holders to Micro-credit and micro investment such as flexi-recurring deposit, etc.

The enhanced are being looked at for extending the reach of this financial inclusion programme that has grown in size over the years with total PMJDY accounts standing at 43.04 crore as of August 18. Out of this, 36.86 crore (85.6 per cent) accounts with only 8.2 per cent PMJDY accounts being zero balance accounts.

The total deposit balances under PMJDY Accounts stand at Rs 1,46,230 crore. Deposits in these have increased about 6.38 times with an increase in accounts 2.4 times between August 2015 and August 21.

“The journey of PMJDY-led interventions undertaken over a short span of 7 years has in effect, produced both transformational as well as directional change thereby making the emerging FI ecosystem capable of delivering financial services to the last person of the society-the poorest of the poor. The underlying pillars of PMJDY, namely, Banking the Unbanked, Securing the Unsecured and Funding the Unfunded has made it possible to adopt multi-stakeholders’ collaborative approach while leveraging technology for serving the unserved and underserved areas as well,” finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on the seventh anniversary of PMJDY.

PMJDY, which is one of the biggest financial inclusion initiatives in the world, was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address on 15th August 2014. While launching the programme on 28th August, the Prime Minister had described the occasion as a festival to celebrate the liberation of the poor from a vicious cycle.

Going ahead the government is looking at further strengthening the scheme with new additions. “Endeavour is to ensure coverage of PMJDY account holders under micro insurance schemes. Eligible PMJDY accountholders will be sought to be covered under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (life cover) PMJJBY and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (accident insurance) PMSBY,” a finance ministry statement said.

Jandhan provides an avenue to the poor for bringing their savings into the formal financial system, an avenue to remit money to their families in villages besides taking them out of the clutches of the usurious money lenders. PMJDY has brought the unbanked into the banking system, expanded the financial architecture of India and brought financial inclusion to almost every adult, the statement added.

As informed by banks, about 5 crore PMJDY accountholders receive direct benefit transfer (DBT) from the Government under various schemes.To ensure that the eligible beneficiaries receive their DBT in time, the finance ministry takes active role in identification of avoidable reasons for DBT failures in consultation with DBT Mission, NPCI, banks and various other Ministries. With close monitoring in this regard through regular VCs with banks and NPCI, the share of DBT failures due to avoidable reasons as a percentage of total DBT failures has decreased from 13.5 per cent (FY 19-20) to 5.7 per cent (FY 20-21), the finance ministry said.

National

Op Sindoor, a result of PM Modi’s political will, intel inputs and Army’s striking potential: Amit Shah at BSF event

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New Delhi, May 23: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that the Operation Sindoor has completely exposed Pakistan before the world and proved that the terrorism in India is Pakistan-sponsored.

Speaking at the 22nd Border Security Force (BSF) Investiture Ceremony and the Rustamji Memorial Lecture, he praised the Indian Armed Forces and also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for transforming India’s counter-terrorism strategy and enabling decisive actions like Operation Sindoor.

Highlighting India’s restraint and precision, he said, “We neither destroyed any Pakistani military installation nor did we ever target an airbase. We only and only destroyed terrorist camps, those who committed crimes on our land.”

Shah credited the success of Operation Sindoor to a combination of leadership, intelligence, and military capability.

“Operation Sindoor is the result of our Prime Minister’s firm political will, the precise intelligence from our information-gathering agencies, and the Army’s remarkable display of striking capability. When these three come together, we get Operation Sindoor,” he said.

Shah stated that Pakistan stands completely exposed after Operation Sindoor.

“Due to Operation Sindoor and the events that followed, Pakistan now stands completely exposed. The terrorism in India is Pakistan-sponsored. When the terror camps in Pakistan were targeted, it was the Pakistani army that responded. The world witnessed that when the funerals of the killed terrorist leaders were held, senior officers of the Pakistan Army were not only present but were also seen carrying their coffins and participating in the prayers,” the Home Minister told the BSF gathering.

Reflecting on India’s evolving security doctrine post-2014, Shah said, “For decades, the country has been facing terrorism. Pakistan carried out several attacks, but there was no appropriate response. In 2014, when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, the first major attack happened in Uri, targeting our soldiers, and we responded with a surgical strike. When the Pulwama attack occurred, the Indian Army gave a strong response through an airstrike. Once again, we eliminated terrorist hideouts.”

The Home Minister praised the Indian Armed Forces for their swift and strategic response following the terror attack in Pahalgam.

“All over the world, many places have responded to terrorist attacks. But the response that India has given is, in a way, different. When the attack on Pahalgam happened, we launched Operation Sindoor. In just few minutes of the operation, we destroyed 9 terrorist bases, of which 2 were their headquarters,” Shah said.

Further, acknowledging BSF’s contribution, HM Shah said, “When it was decided that one force will provide security on one border, BSF was given the responsibility of guarding the two most difficult borders – Bangladesh and Pakistan – and given your capabilities, you have secured it very well.”

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Crime

Female artist sexual exploitation & blackmail case: Karnataka Police arrest accused

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Bengaluru, May 23: The Karnataka Police have arrested the accused actor in connection with the alleged sexual exploitation and blackmail of a female artist in Bengaluru on Friday.

The accused is identified as Madenuru Manu, a resident of Nagarabhavi in Bengaluru.

The Annapurneshwari Nagar Police have arrested Manu and will produce him before the court.

The police have taken the accused for the medical test.

During the preliminary investigation, Manu admitted that he knew the victim. However, he denied all charges against him, claiming that it was a conspiracy.

The Karnataka Police have lodged an FIR in connection with the alleged sexual exploitation and blackmail of a female artist over a private video after the 33-year-old victim filed the complaint.

The accused is said to have been selected as the lead actor in an upcoming Kannada movie, and police are currently investigating the matter.

The FIR has been registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 64(2) (rape), Section 69 (sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means), Section 89 (causing miscarriage without the woman’s consent), Section 318(4) (cheating), Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and Section 352 (intentional insult).

According to the complainant, she met the accused during the shoot of the Kannada television programme ‘Comedy Kiladi’ in 2018, after which they became friends. She stated that the accused had arranged a rented house in Nagarabhavi.

On November 29, 2022, the victim accompanied the accused and other comedy artists to a programme in Shikaripura, Shivamogga district.

After the performance, while she was in a hotel room in Shikaripura, the accused allegedly entered the room under the pretext of paying her remuneration and sexually assaulted her, the FIR said.

Later, on December 3, 2022, the accused reportedly came to her residence and forcefully tied a mangalsutra around her neck against her will. Following this, he allegedly continued to sexually assault her at the same residence.

The victim stated that she became pregnant during this period. Upon learning of the pregnancy, the accused allegedly gave her pills to induce an abortion. She became pregnant again later, and he once again forced her to undergo an abortion, according to the FIR.

The accused then rented another house for the victim, where he continued to sexually assault her. He is also accused of recording her private videos on his phone, physically assaulting her, and threatening her not to reveal the incidents to anyone.

Claiming to be the lead actor in an upcoming film, the accused allegedly took several lakhs of rupees from the victim. She has stated that he pretended to marry her while subjecting her to repeated assaults, forced abortions, and threats to her life. When she confronted him, the accused reportedly assaulted and threatened her again.

The victim has also alleged that the accused, Manu, is a married man.

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National

CM Bhupendra Patel to attend NITI Aayog’s Governing Council meeting in Delhi

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Gandhinagar, May 23: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will be in New Delhi on Saturday to attend the 10th meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, the central policy think tank headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The meeting, to be chaired by the Prime Minister, will bring together Chief Ministers of all states, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, and several Union Ministers.

The Governing Council serves as NITI Aayog’s top decision-making body and focuses on key issues related to national development, cooperative federalism, and sectoral policies involving both central and state governments.

During the two-day visit, beginning Saturday, CM Patel will participate in a Chief Ministers’ conclave, being held in the wake of Operation Sindoor.

Sources indicate that following the meeting, Chief Minister Patel is likely to hold discussions regarding Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit to Gujarat on May 26 and 27, which is expected to include key public events and project inaugurations in the state.

During his visit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to arrive at the Naliya Airbase in Kutch, where he will interact with soldiers stationed at the forward base near the Indo-Pak border.

PM Modi is also likely to offer prayers at the revered Mata Ashapura temple before addressing a large public gathering in Bhuj.

As part of his focus on infrastructure and indigenous manufacturing, Prime Minister Modi is also expected to visit Dahod, where he will inaugurate a 9,000-horsepower engine manufactured at the Indian Railways’ diesel locomotive plant.

Additionally, the Prime Minister is set to launch several development projects across Gujarat via video conferencing during the two-day tour.

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