New Delhi: As many as 19,418 accounts were opened under the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC) Scheme in Jammu and Kashmir, mobilising ₹202.23 crore, the Union Ministry of Finance informed the Rajya Sabha.
The figures were provided in a written reply by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary to an unstarred question raised by BJP J&K president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma on the scheme’s reach among women in the Union Territory.
According to the reply, 16,695 accounts were opened through the Department of Posts, with nearly 20 per cent of these registered through rural post offices. The remaining postal accounts were opened through urban post offices. Another 2,723 accounts were opened through authorised banks serving both rural and urban areas.
Sharma had sought details on the number of beneficiaries, financial corpus mobilised, participation from rural areas and measures taken to increase financial awareness among women, particularly those from economically weaker sections.
Reacting to the reply, Sharma said the figures indicated participation in savings schemes among women but added that the reach could be expanded further in remote and economically disadvantaged areas. He called for sustained financial literacy and awareness campaigns.
The Finance Ministry said the MSSC Scheme was operational from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2025. The Department of Posts and authorised banks conducted outreach and awareness activities by displaying details of the scheme and its benefits at post offices and bank branches.
