Jammu, Feb 22: The Punjab National Bank today formally launched a Smart Card-based and ICT (information and communication technology) driven project in J&K.
 The project “being first of its kind in the state initially aims at covering 25000 poor and socially disadvantageous people living in various clusters in and around Jammu city,” the bank in a statement said.
 The project was formally launched by Nagesh Pydah, Executive Director of the Bank at Bishnah, here. R C Kaul, DGM PNB (J&K operations), Arnab Roy, Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India, N K Sahu, DGM, Reserve Bank of India, M L Sukhdeve, CGM, NABARD, M K Dwivedi, DDC Jammu and many other dignitaries were present at the function.
 Giving details Pydah said that PNB is going all out for pan country financial inclusion with special thrust in Indo Gangetic belt where IT enabled financial inclusion projects have been rolled out.
 This technology aims purely its focus on unbanked population clusters making use of biometric technology whereby thumb impressions are captured and business correspondents create kiosks/points of sale counters to collect cash or make payments by use of smart cards.
 “The smart card carries inherent facility of clean overdraft for the user,” he elaborated. Pydah apprised that under the IT enabled financial inclusion, the bank had identified 27 pilot projects of which 20 were in rural areas and 7 in urban areas, to be launched in 13 states in indo Gangetic belt.
 Earlier he said the project had already been launched in states like Rajasthan, UP, Bihar, Punjab and HP.
 The Bank also distributed Kissan Credit Cards in this function to about 318 farmers living in various villages around the town.
 R C Kaul, DGM informed that Bank has issued 1654 Kissan Credit Cards during the current financial year and opened 50514 Mitra accounts out of which 12000 are ICT based Smart card enabled..

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