Chief Minister iugurates Digidhan Mela

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

Guwahati, Jan 11: In a move towards cashless economy, Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal iugurated Digidhan Mela at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra on Wednesday.

Synchronising with the two-day digidhan mela which has been aimed at strengthening fincial inclusion programme and digital literacy, Sonowal also  unveiled an e-wallet ‘Tokapoisa.in’ and an e-payment portal for creating a cashless state.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said, “The move was necessitated to put a spanner on black money, corruption and terror funding.”

He also expressed his gratitude to the people of Assam for whole heartedly supporting demonetisation and endorsing the State government’s move towards cashless economy. He also said Guwahati is amongst the 100 cities that the Centre has shortlisted for organising digidhan mela as Dibrugarh is becoming the second city to organise such mela from February 3.

Sonowal asked the deputy commissioners present on the occasion to replicate the same and organise awareness campaign for cashless transactions in their respective districts. He also informed that on January 22, such awareness campaign will be organised in all gaon panchayats in the State to give cashless transaction a fillip.

Mentioning that cashless payment has the potential to wipe out the mece of ‘middleman’, he called upon the citizens to adopt cashless transactions as a way of life. He also asked the DCs to take steps to connect ‘technology with psychology’ to popularise digital mode of payments among the rural populace.

The Chief Minister maintained that the system of cashless economy cannot be made successful unless all citizens are taken on board as he urged upon all sections of the people to endorse digital mode of payments for an inclusive and cleaner economy.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for DoNER Dr Jitendra Singh, while speaking on the occasion, said the decision on demonetisation has reinforced the esteem of common men in the country and it has been done to ensure transfer benefits to the poorest of the poor.

Fince Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while speaking on the occasion, termed Digidhan Mela an impetus to cashless economy and said such an awareness campaign has been necessitated aftermath demonetisation which is a boost to an inclusive growth. He also informed that post demonetisation a record number of 6,42,559 bank accounts have been created in tea garden areas which is an indicative to people’s acceptance to cashless economy.

Minister of Information and Technology Keshab Mahanta said demonetisation has given an opportunity of cashless transaction and inclusive growth.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, several MLAs, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Director NITI Ayog Sanjay Kumar, Advisor of NITI Ayog Jitender Kumar and a host of several dignitaries were present on the occasion.