With floods impacting normal life in Chennai, the Finance Ministry has asked banks and insurers to ensure that financial transactions are carried out with ease in the city.
Accordingly, the Department of Financial Services has asked banks to ensure that all ATMs are working in the city to provide mobile ATMs where devices are not functional due to the floods.
"The banks are requested to ensure that ATMs are functional and in places where they are not, alternative mechanisms like mobile ATM, ATM vans and mobile ATMs mounted on boats may be used. The banks may also put their employees’ along with laptops to facilitate withdrawals in localities themselves," said a Finance Ministry release on Thursday.
It has also directed insurers to depute senior officers to the city to handle claims expeditiously.
Additionally, it has also asked banks implementing Agency for Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Suraksha Bima Yojna and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana to appoint a Nodal Officer for each bank as well as for specific Districts to attend to claims.
"Banks should immediately put in place this mechanism. Banks are requested to indicate daily progress in the format used for disaster relief purposes," it said