New initiative proves effective in limiting gatherings before CSPs in Darrang

MANGALDAI, April 28 - The prevailing long queues of women in front of banks and the bank- authorised CSP (Customers Service Point) defying social distancing norms of COVID-19 prevention are no more being witnessed since the last couple of days in Darrang district.

Visits of this correspondent to a few such CSPs to know the cause of this visible change in assembling of beneficiaries of the PM Jan Dhan account holders, has revealed the introduction of a new initiative by the district administration where beneficiaries are issued paper tokens in advance and given an alert call a few minutes before their scheduled time of arrival. The administration has already engaged two government officials against each CSP across the district to ensure hassle-free service to women customers at this time of the ongoing Ramzan month.

On being contacted over phone, Deputy Commissioner, Ghanshyam Dass while explaining the new initiative said, �Earlier Jan Dhan Account women beneficiaries had to wait in very long queues to withdraw money from their bank accounts. Many complaints regarding violation of social distancing norms were being received. Seeking a respite from the prevailing situation, we have appointed two government employees for every CSP to maintain a waiting register and issue tokens specifying the approximate time of service.�

�Now during the Ramzan month with the weather turning hot, beneficiaries especially from the Muslim community need not wait in queue. Instead they visit the CSPs when their turn comes and withdraw money. If someone fails to appear within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, the government employee calls the beneficiary�, Dass maintained.

Renu Saharia and Pratap Das, two teachers whom this correspondent met while visiting the CSPs said that they are in the service since April 22 last whereas beneficiaries are responding to their calls well.