J&K Bank kick-started the distribution of smart cards in Kashmir valley from Karhama, a village in Baramulla at an impressive function organized today in the context of Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Reserve Bank of India. Karhama is one among the eight villages adopted by RBI for cent percent financial inclusion in J&K.
Biometric-technology enabled smart cards will enable people to deposit and withdraw money without paying visit to the bank branch.
Devinder Singh, Deputy General Manager RBI while speaking on the occasion appreciated the role of J&K Bank for achieving hundred percent financial inclusion in the village He also hailed the Bank's initiative of setting up a Khidmat Centre in the village. "With Khidmat centre in the vicinity, people here can access their accounts through smart cards without having to visit the bank", Singh stressed.
Urging people to take advantage of the technology and avail the banking facilities available to them, Singh emphasized on the need "for bank account for everyone, just as we have cell phones in ever hand today".
Singh further announced that RBI would soon provide three computers to the local primary school. Later, Singh distributed smart cards among the beneficiaries under financial inclusion programme while officials of FINO, the technological support provider, gave the demonstration about use of smart cards on Point of Transaction (PoT).
Ghulam Rasool, Bank's Cluster Head in his address thanked the RBI for adopting this backward village for financial inclusion. "With RBI adopting the village and J&K Bank opening the Khidmat Centre, people of Karhama shall embrace new heights of development", he emphasized.
Aijaz Ahmed, branch head Kunzar in his speech urged the people to take maximum benefit of the product and service offerings of the J&K Bank and Khidmat Centre.