BJPL-led NDA government has set up a high-level committee to identify all possible modes of digital payment across all sectors of the economy as it gears to transform India into a cashless economy with its recent demonetisation drive since November 8. The committee is headed by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.
Other members of the committee include digital payments economy in India include secretary, department of financial services, secretary, ministry of electronics and information technology; DIPP secretary, secretary, DIPAM; MD & CEO of the National Payments Corporation of India, secretary, ministry of rural development, and the chairman of National Highways Authority of India.
The committee will engage regularly with central ministries, regulators, state governments, district administration, local bodies, trade and industry associations etc. to promote rapid adoption of digital payment systems and help achieve expeditious movement into the cashless, digital payments economy across all states and sectors.
The attempt is to establish and monitor an implementation framework with strict timelines to ensure that nearly 80 per cent of the transaction in India moves to the digital-only platform.
The committee will also attempt to estimate costs involved in various digital payments options and oversee implementation of measures to make such transaction between government and citizens cheaper than cash transaction.
The committee led by NITI Aayog will also implement an action plan on advocacy, awareness and handholding efforts among public, NITI Aayog will also implement an action plan on advocacy, awareness and handholding efforts among public, micro enterprises and other stakeholders. That apart, it will organize training and capacity building of various states/UTs, ministries/departments of the government, representatives of states/UTs, trade and industry bodies as well as other stakeholders.
By Baishakhi Dutta
