A press conference was held today in Ahmedabad at 11:00 a.m. to brief the media on the progress and objectives of the ongoing three-month Financial Inclusion and Social Security Scheme Saturation Campaign, launched by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, Government of India from 01.07.2025 to 30.09.2025.

The media briefing was done by Shri Ashwini Kumar, Convenor, SLBC Gujarat & General Manager, Bank of Baroda. He informed that the state-level launch of the campaign was held at Pundhara Village of Gandhinagar Districts in Gujarat on 01 July 2025. It was virtually inaugurated by Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat, and graced by the presence of Shri Kanubhai Desai, Hon’ble Finance Minister of Gujarat, along with All 33 District collectors and other dignitaries attending both physically and virtually. The event was organised by SLBC Gujarat under the convenorship of Bank of Baroda.

He provided detailed insights into the campaign’s objectives, implementation strategy. He also mentioned that this campaign is a collective effort of all PSBs, Pvt. Banks, Co-op Banks, Gramin Banks spread across 33 Districts of Gujarat State covering 14610 Gram Panchayats. The Lead District Managers at each Gram Panchayat will organise Camps through respective Bank Branches and sensitize the local population to actively participate and enrol themselves under each of social security schemes which are available at meagre premium of Rs.20/- for PMSBY and Rs.436/- for PMJJBY with a coverage of Rs.2 lakhs.

He explained that the campaign is focused on achieving 100% coverage under major financial inclusion and social security schemes. These include account opening under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), enrolments under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and the Atal Pension Yojana (APY). Additionally, the campaign addresses re-KYC and activation of dormant PMJDY accounts, updating of pending nomination details in deposit accounts, and delivery of intensive financial literacy sessions. These sessions raise awareness on prevention of cyber and digital fraud, the procedure to reclaim unclaimed deposits transferred to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and the role and benefits of the Banking Ombudsman.

During the session, Shri Ashwini Kumar mentioned that as on 30.06.2025, under Social Security Schemes, 29 lakhs Atal Pension Yojana (APY) are enrolled. 92 lakhs PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) have been enrolled and of which 55589 claims have been settled and paid. 194 lakhs PM Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) have been enrolled, and 4943 claims have been settled and paid. 194 lakhs PM Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts are opened.

He emphasised that the media plays a vital role in effective information dissemination and urged representatives to support the wide outreach of the campaign’s objectives. He underscored the importance of ensuring that no eligible citizen is left behind in accessing the benefits of key financial and social security schemes. The campaign, he noted, is aligned with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ articulated by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and aims to promote inclusive financial empowerment and social protection.

The press briefing witnessed the presence of senior officials from Bank of Baroda Shri Ashwini Kumar, Convenor SLBC Gujarat & General Manager; Shri Vipin Kumar Garg, Deputy General Manager; Shri Ranjit Ranjan Das, Deputy General Manager; Smt. Veena K. Shah, Deputy General Manager; along with other senior officials from the Bank.

AP/IJ/NP/GP/JD

(Release ID: 2143431)