The Manohar lal Khattar Government has geared up to make Haryana, country’s first cashless state.
The State Government has constituted a Committee of administrative secretaries to seek suggestions from all departments to build Haryana as a cashless state.
Haryana Finance Minister Capt. Abhimanyu on Monday said that all receipts and payments in government would be made totally cashless, and this practice would also be promoted in the society as well.
“With a view to promoting cashless system and train government officials in digital banking, a committee headed by administrative secretary has been constituted,” said the Finance Minister while talking to the mediapersons.
He said that the committee work on executing all modules to realise the objective and would also prepare the schedule for training in digital banking and online transactions and execute it. Demo of cashless transaction on mobile would also form part of the training, he said.
On being asked about the time-frame for implementation of complete cashless transactions in the government system, Capt Abhimanyu said departments concerned has been directed to immediately make big transactions cashless.
“This work is going at a very fast pace. Soon, Haryana would be the first to be developed as a cashless state.” he said. Similarly, e-payment facilities are being promoted for making petty payments in government departments. POS machines would be installed in all departments and bills would be paid through cashless mode, said the Minister.
“I have complete faith in the capacity of Haryana’s people and hope that they will soon adopt cashless system of payments,” he added.
Capt. Abhimanyu also said Central Government has been requested to bring down the charges of online mode of payments at minimum level. At the same time, he pointed out, “it is a set principle that quantum of such charges will be reduced according to the rise in cashless transactions.”
When asked about the impact of demonetization of notes of high denominations on state revenue, he said that there has been no fall in the registration of properties in various tehsils of the state.
“The cash situation is getting easy by the day. Cash crunch is no more visible. The objective is to promote any mode of financial transaction other than cash,” he added.
Capt Abhimanyu said the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has urged people to make all transactions cashless and adopt online and other mode of e-banking for payments. This would not only help eliminate corruption but would also facilitate a check on terrorism and Maoist activities, he added. Slamming opposition parties for opposition the demonetization move, the Minister said that those opposing demonetization of old currency of high denomination did not understand the pulse of the public.
"Due to demonetisation, the opposition parties are feeling troubled and staying away from people's concern,” he added.
Earlier, while addressing Administrative Secretaries, Capt. Abhimanyu asked them to ensure that all receipts and payments of government were totally cashless. He also asked them to make wide publicity of cashless mode of transactions through advertisements, radio jingles and also on Whatsapp to promote cashless and digital banking.
Haryana Transport Dept to launch e-ticketing system
Haryana Transport Department will soon launch an e-ticketing system to promote cashless transactions in the state.
The Transport Minister Krishan lal Panwar on Monday said that iIn the initial phase, this system would be implemented for services operating along highway routes.
The work is being undertaken at a rapid pace to make all Departments, including Transport Department, high-tech under the ‘Digital Haryana’ programme on the pattern of ‘Digital India’. Approval has been given for purchasing a Rs 1.35-crore server for making the functioning of the Transport Department online, he said.
The Minister said that option of e-Payment facility is being offered to owners of transport vehicles through State Bank of India for payment of road tax. This facility, launched in July, 2016, has been made available through e-GRAS in the offices of all Secretaries, Regional Transport Authorities and Registration Authority, he added.
Panwar said that e-Soochna Centres would be established at all bus stands in the state, to provide information regarding timetable of buses, routes and tourist destinations. The first such Centre has been established at Kurukshetra ahead of International Gita Mahotsav-2016, said he. The Minister added that widespread use should be made of Information Technology to put an end to corruption and bring in transparency in the system.