The Union Government has urged Odisha to take proactive steps for promotion of digital payments and move towards a less cash society.
Union Secretary Finance Shaktikanta Das has approached the Odisha Government in this regard.
While the State Government has already started making arrangements for facilitating digital payment at the Government level, Das has urged the State to take up the matter in a time bound manner.
Das has said that the Government of India had constituted a committee to review the payments system in the country and recommend appropriate measures for encouraging digital payments under the Chairmanship of NITI Aayog Advisor Ratan P Watal.
Watal, who was earlier Union Secretary Finance, has already recommended several measures for facilitating digital payments in the country. The Government of India has accepted the recommendations and all the departments of the Union Government are taking up steps in a time bound manner, Das informed.
Das pointed out that there are certain measures to be taken up by the State Government in this regard. The State Government will be adopting digital payments for all its needs and withdraw all charges levied by the Government departments and utilities on digital payments and bear the cost of such transactions.
The State Government will have to mandate various departments of the Government and agencies to provide option to consumers to pay digitally, incentivise consumers to make payments (including payment of fines and penalties) to the Government electronically by giving a discount or cash back, enable consumers to make payments (including taxes) to the Government through suitable digital means like cards and wallets, and lay special emphasis on promoting digital payments for recurring low value transactions.
The Odisha Government has initiated measures for digital payment in various sectors. In order to make it full-fledged, time bound steps are needed, underscored Das.
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) in the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) is monitoring the digital payment process regularly and as the Secretary DEA, Das has requested the State Government to take early action for implementation of the Watal Committee Recommendations pertaining to various sectors and departments in the Government.
Das said that the DEA has also extended handholding support for such an initiative and said in case of any difficulties, the DEA will be helping the State in this regard.
After November 8, 2016, the Government of India is striving hard for digital mode of payment and has taken up it in a mission mode.
Several State Governments, including Odisha, have supported the move and are taking up various measures, said sources.