Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Choudhary Zulfkar Ali today called for making economy cashless to ensure transparent system.
The Minister was speaking at the inaugural function of “Training on Digital Payment”- capacity building State level workshop for small and medium businesses, organized by National Institute of Electronics and Information and Technology (NIELIT) J&K in collaboration with Chamber of Traders Federation, Jammu at Brigadier Rajinder Singh auditorium, University of Jammu.
MLA Sat Sharma was also present in the function.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said many progressive countries including United States of America, Norway and Sweden tried to go for “no cash economy”. However, after its failure they all had to retract the move and push for “cashless economy”, the Minister added.
He said the people have to brace for digital initiatives undertaken by Union Government by doing their day to day business transactions through digital mode. He said online money transactions including electronic wallets and Aadhar enabled transactions are not only a faster mode to transfer money, but the use of technology would also help in increasing and making the system transparent.
The Minister said there was a “shadow economy” running in the country earlier, and no one in the past had ever dared to do anything about it. However, the PM by making demonetization uprooted the menace.
The Minister said there are challenges including lack of banking facilities in remote areas of the country and better internet connectivity, which need to be addressed to realize the PM’s dream of digital India.
Giving details about the digitization of his department, the Minister said in last one year he has managed to change the perception of the department through digitization. He said now people instead of running around offices and clerks to get their ration card can download their e-ticket from the comfort of their bedrooms. All the transactions in future would be Aadhar enabled, where people would take ration without paying any money as it would directly be deducted from their bank accounts. He said it would greatly help in increasing the transparency and functioning of the department.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Sat Sharma urged the traders associations of the State to augment the PM’s initiative by doing their business transactions through digital mode.
Executive Director NIELIT Dr A H Moon, Joint Controller, Legal Metrology Department Jammu V S Sambyal, President Chamber of Traders Federation, Jammu, Neeraj Anand and representatives of banks and other business communities were also present in the function.
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