Expand Jan Dhan beyond bank accounts, says ex-RBI Guv Subbarao

Lauding the government's Jan Dhan initiative, former RBI Governor D Subbarao on Friday said this financial inclusion programme should be expanded to also ensure remittance and credit facilities for the poor.

He also called for necessary steps to ensure double-digit economic growth for eliminating poverty. "6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5 per cent (of growth) is not good enough for us. India must grow at double digit in order to reduce poverty.

We are not only a fast growing economy we have the largest number of poor people in the world," said Subbarao in an interactive session at the ICFAI campus here.

"India has more poor people than the entire continent of Africa. We have to bring poverty down. We need to grow at 10 or 10 plus per cent," he added.

The former RBI Governor also emphasised on the need to boost economic productivity and attract investments.

"We need to improve productivity in the economy. We need to increase investment to improve productivity and improve governance," he said.

Replying to a query, he said Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) should not be limited to opening bank accounts for the poor but should ensure that the downtrodden masses can utilise banking facilities. "It (PMJDY) gives enormous fillip to the program. It means the government recognises the financial is necessary condition for financial inclusive growth.

"I am outside of the government, so I don't not know the quality of financial inclusion. But I don't think that is sufficient. Poor people must get credit. They must get remittance facility. They must get a lot of other things that we enjoy outside in order for them to confidently use bank account," Subbarao, who took over as the 22nd Governor of RBI.

Also, banks should not see financial inclusion more as an obligation but as an opportunity, Subbarao added. Earlier in his lecture, Subbarao -- who was Finance Secretary prior to becoming RBI Governor -- said the Reserve Bank of India should listen to the unheard voices of the poor in monetary policy decisions.

On global events, he said India is vulnerable to what happens in the outside world. "Just as India is beneficiary of low crude oil prices, low commodity prices, America's recovery.. we are also vulnerable to what happens in Europe Japan and Middle East. ...Political as well as economic development of the world, we have an impact," he said.

The former RBI Governor said falling crude prices will have positive impact on Indian economy in terms of controlling inflation and current account deficit.

He was delivering the fifth foundation day lecture on 'RBI Making A Difference To Everyday Lives' at the ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education here.