The financial inclusion campaign of Central Government, called Swabhimaan has helped create banking services in 74,000 habitations with a population of over 2000 in the country. Under the campaign about 3.16 crore new bank accounts were opened till March this year.

The agenda note released by the Ministry of Finance during South Zone Chief Minister’s Conference in Bangalore today, states that the campaign has now been extended to habitations with a population of more than 1000 people in North East and 1600 to 2000 in other states. More than 45,000 such habitations are identified in the country and banks have been asked to open bank branches or appoint business correspondents or mobile vans.

The note says that till September this year, banking services are provided in 2488 habitations out of a total of over 45,000 and efforts are on to ensure that all households benefit from bank acounts in the next two years.

In India, only 58 percent of total population is availing banking facility.