Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Choudhary Zulfkar Ali today called making economy cashless to ensure transparent systems and strengthen the economy.The Minister said while 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 here 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 said.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 is not only a faster mode to transfer money, but the use of technology would also help in increasing and making the system transparent.
Referring to 10 November 2016 as “historic day in Indian history”, the Minister said on the day Prime Minister, Narendra Modi declared “demonetization”, which changed many things in the country.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.Zulfkar Ali said although people faced difficulties and had to stand in long queues to get their money from banks and ATMs, yet no one criticized it as everyone knew it was for the betterment of the country.Appreciating the Union Government for making serious efforts to take country on a digital mode, the Minister informed in 1999 around one percent of country’s population was using mobile phones. But today out of around 125 crore of country’s population, 108 crore people use mobile phones, he said, adding 112 crore have Aadhar cards.The Minister said India might be almost at par with US in terms of using technology, however, corruption and corrupt practices run so deep in the country that without weeding them out, country’s development is not possible.
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.He said although centre has taken many developmental initiatives, however, without the much needed support from everyone, especially business community it would be difficult to make a transparent system.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.