Uphill task for government to make people digital friendly

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Feb 3: It will be an uphill task for the Government of Meghalaya to shift the citizens to the digital payment methods under the Lucky Grahak Yoja for customers and Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yoja for merchants, but it is surely to benefit the rural populace without communications and banking institutions.

Meghalya Chief Secretary KS Kropha, in his address to the media on Friday, briefed about the objectives under Digi Dhan fair scheduled in Shillong on February 7th categorically stated, we are having challenges and constraints yet on a path to make the objective materialise”. Communication and banking is understood to the biggest challenges to achieved the cashless society in the state. Even as he said that we are not completely looking for cashless transaction but on ‘less cash’ activities, Kropha said that the State government is putting pressure on the banking institutions and the mobile phone caterers in the state.

“We don’t have gram panchayats but clustered villages which we think should come under the tiol application Network Scheme,” stated the Chief Secretary, even as he informed that the BSNL has been advised to toe the line.

However, the State Chief Secretary said, “Besides the banking institutions who have been pressured to increase the number of banking correspondence to meet this end, even the mobile service providers will have to act in line with the tiol policy of enhancing digi-transactions.”

At least 65% of the state population is having mobile phones. But none knows on the amount of people without a smart phone. It is here that the question arises on how will the ordiry citizens without a smart phones or knowledge use these digital methods.