Only around one-fifth of 16,695 postal accounts opened through rural post offices, Centre cites outreach by banks, post offices
Srinagar: As many as 19,418 accounts were opened in Jammu and Kashmir under the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC) scheme, with women and guardians of minor girls depositing a combined ₹202.23 crore, the Centre informed Parliament on Tuesday.
Minister of State provided the figures for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in a written reply to a question by BJP MLA Sat Paul Sharma.
Of the total accounts, 16,695 were opened through the Department of Posts, while another 2,723 accounts were opened through authorised banks covering both rural and urban areas.
However, the Centre’s response showed a significant rural-urban gap in the postal network. Of the 16,695 accounts opened through post offices, only around 20 per cent were registered through rural post offices, while the remaining accounts were opened through urban post offices.
The response did not provide a separate percentage-wise breakup of the 2,723 accounts opened through authorised banks between rural and urban branches.
The MSSC scheme was introduced as a savings instrument exclusively for women and girls, including accounts opened by guardians on behalf of minor girls. It offered a fixed interest rate and was operational for two years, from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2025.
The Centre said the scheme has now completed its operational period.
The rural distribution of postal accounts points to a relatively limited penetration of the scheme through rural post offices in the Union Territory.
While 16,695 accounts were opened through the postal network, only about one in five came from rural post offices. The remaining roughly 80 per cent were registered through urban post offices.
The figures assume significance given the government’s stated objective of expanding access to small savings instruments among women, particularly those outside major urban financial centres.
The Centre, however, did not provide district-wise data on the accounts or the amount deposited through rural and urban channels separately.
Outreach programmes cited
On measures to increase awareness and adoption of the scheme among low-income women households, the Ministry of Finance said the Department of Posts and authorised agency banks conduct outreach programmes.
These agencies also display the salient features and benefits of small savings schemes at post offices and bank branches, the government said.
The response, however, did not cite any separate target or dedicated financial literacy campaign specifically for low-income women in Jammu and Kashmir under the MSSC scheme.
The government said the Department of Posts and authorised banks were responsible for wider publicity of small savings schemes through their existing outreach mechanisms.
