Arvinder Bali
India is undergoing a revolutionary movement of Digitization that seeks to convert India into a digitally, enabled and less cash economy. The infrastructure for Digitizing India has been laid down and is quite ready to connect one billion phone users to the internet in the next 2-3 years. Under this mission, several innovative technological measures such as e-Kranti, Public internet access, Broad band highways have been built up for connecting every District, Taluka and Panchayat with the Digital services to make Digital India a true success. Digital projects have been designed with an aim to ensure that Government services are available electronically with an equal opportunity to all the citizens. The Digital India programme will basically enable creation of a super data structure to address the problems digitally for every segment of the Indian population.
This is the time where the environment is reeling with digitization in the country where all have an opportunity to be part of this mega reform to shift over to Digital world for cashless transactions. In the ushering digital technology, the various user friendly citizen centric schemes have been launched for digital transactions based on Adhar enabled system. The cashless transactions can be done by UPI (Unified payment interface) mechanism and is an interoperable banking system across all the banks. The Adhar enabled system works on the thumb impression that is linked with the Smart Phone where we can put our Adhar no to get the purchase anywhere in India. Infact, Adhar card enabling payment system based on Micro ATM is the most advanced and user friendly cashless system that allows to make secure immediate money transfer using eyes or thumb impression.USSD is an another innovative system that can be used for transacting money without internet and Smart Phone and is possible by the first generation GSM phone for financial transaction instantly anywhere. The entire transactions are safe as all interconnected banks are provided with highly safe and secured digitally layered security walls and there is minimal chance of incursion inside the networks.
In our state, tremendous potential is there where a change for the better through innovative digital programmes can be made. Challenges to develop a digital literate society should come from each one of us so in transforming J&K into digitally empowered State. By bringing in the digital technologies, city wide web based citizen-centric service centers can be developed for all three regions (Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir) for delivery of Government services electronically. The idea is that people should be given online information about health services, ( payment and registration, on line availability of diagnostic reports,) water connection, electrical Supply, electricity bills, courts, Energy shortage, law and order etc. so that a transparent system come in place. The digital e-governance services can address the issues of general public on real time basis with greater clarity and focus on steps taken to contain issues on principle and equality. The online disbursal of Government announced beneficial schemes to the end beneficiary will change the people’s state of mind and would dramatically make life of people happy and easier.
The stark fact about the power situation in the state is that J&K is reeling under huge amount of power shortage .The power losses (AT&C) in the state is estimated to be more than 50 percent, consequently, the adequate quantity of power supply on daily basis is not met. The major challenge in this segment is the lack of real time information available to the public about the actual quantity and quality of power supply to the consumers. The need of the hour is to introduce a system of the Digital technologies to identify unaccounted power consumption and energy losses on real time basis. We need to adopt innovative service models based on IT, communication and Internet of Things to modernize our power distribution system to reduce the energy losses to supply adequate amount of power to our citizens.
Digital technologies based web enabled model must be designed in such a way that the general public can access the information about the power availability, power supply, power shortage, power outages and a clear picture of Power generation and Power status in the state. Digital platform can give a big boost to the power reforms to turn around the economic growth of the state.
Let’s handhold our farmers, laborers, daily wagers and all other section of society so that everyone get the benefits of the digital technology resulting in the inclusive growth of the state. It is a big opportunity for all of us to convert J&K into digitally empowered and knowledge based society. Once these technologies are implemented, this will go long way in providing the much needed impetus to the positive peace and development of the State.
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