In a strategic push for grassroots empowerment, the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), Odisha—convened by UCO Bank—joined hands with the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Bhubaneswar, to spotlight progress under a three-month financial inclusion campaign.
Running from July 1 to September 30, 2025, the initiative spans all 6,794 Gram Panchayats across the state and supports the Centre’s saturation campaign under the Department of Financial Services.
The drive is focused on opening bank accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), enrolling individuals in PMJJBY, PMSBY, and APY schemes, re-verifying dormant accounts, updating nominations, and educating citizens about digital fraud and grievance redressal systems.
As of July 21, early metrics from 621 Gram Panchayats showcase a significant surge:
- 6,742 PMJDY accounts opened
- 8,779 PMJJBY and 14,045 PMSBY enrollments
- 2,938 APY subscriptions
- ₹456.30 crore and ₹95.95 crore paid out under PMJJBY and PMSBY, respectively
Senior officials from RBI, NABARD, and the Odisha government participated in preparatory meetings, reinforcing the campaign’s scope and accountability.
The press conference was attended by Akhil Kumar Mishra, Additional Director General, PIB Bhubaneswar; Bhagwat Singh Bhakuni, Deputy General Manager, UCO Bank & Zonal Manager, Bhubaneswar Zone; Ms. Varshra, Deputy General Manager, UCO Bank & Zonal Manager, Cuttack Zone; and Lingaraj Nayak, Assistant General Manager In-Charge, SLBC Odisha.
