Chennai, July 17:
The Union Government is working with the primary objective of ensuring that the benefits of government services reach the common man at the grassroot level, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. L. Murugan said on Thursday.
Speaking after inaugurating the newly established Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) at the Kolathur Post Office for the benefit of people of North Chennai, he highlighted that post offices have now been integrated to provide essential public utility services, including banking, insurance, and Aadhar services, under one roof.
He emphasized that ever since the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014, the benefits of various central social welfare schemes are being transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, completely eliminating middlemen.
Mr Murugan said over 58 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts have been opened over the past 12 years to facilitate this financial inclusion.
Stating that India has emerged as a global leader in digital and cashless transactions, the Union Minister said the government is actively implementing various schemes with a dual focus–upgrading national infrastructure to world-class standards and ensuring that the benefits of social welfare reach every section of society.
He noted that these concerted efforts, will pave the way for India to transform into a fully developed nation by 2047.
To mark the launch of the new facility, the Union Minister handed over the very first passport processed at this centre to the parents of a six-month-old infant.
Highlighting administrative reforms aimed at improving the ‘Ease of Living’ for citizens, the Minister mentioned that the Union Government has repealed more than 1,500 obsolete and redundant laws.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Isha Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Mariamma Thomas, Chief Postmaster General (Tamil Nadu Circle) and R. Vijayakumar, Regional Passport Officer (Chennai), among other prominent dignitaries.